NSW Liberals meeting to choose new leader

April 21, 2023 01:46 AM EEST | By AAPNEWS
 NSW Liberals meeting to choose new leader
Image source: AAPNEWS

Nearly one month after former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet resigned as Liberal leader, another MP is set to grasp the nettle and become the state opposition leader.

Former attorney general, barrister and moderate Mark Speakman is understood to have the numbers to take the role, and is expected to leave a party room meeting on Friday as leader of the NSW Liberals.

"I'm running on a united team with Damien Tudehope and Natalie Ward," the Cronulla MP told reporters as he entered parliament with the pair, respectively conservative and moderate members.

Mr Speakman's main competition will come from former minister and right factionist Anthony Roberts, who signalled earlier this month he intends to run.

Alister Henskens, another ex-minister who tested his leadership chances from the morning after the March 25 election loss, would not confirm on Friday if he would run.

Mark Coure told AAP he would back Mr Speakman.

"I think he'll do a wonderful job for the Liberal Party."

The Liberal party room will also vote to replace deputy leader Matt Kean, who resigned in the wake of the coalition's election defeat to spend more time with his family.

Conservative western Sydney MP Tanya Davies is tipped for the deputy role after running on a platform of recapturing suburban Sydney seats lost to Labor.

The Badgerys Creek MP made headlines last year when she caught COVID-19 after speaking at a rally against vaccine mandates outside the state parliament. 

"I can offer the leadership and representation that the people of western Sydney and NSW more broadly demand," Ms Davies said when announcing her intention to run.

A challenge from North Shore MP Felicity Wilson is expected to complicate Ms Davies' chances but the western Sydney member is tipped to come through on Friday.

Newly elected Liberal MP Kellie Sloane's name was also floated as a possible deputy but she will not contest at Friday's meeting.

Ms Ward, the former women's minister, is favourite to become the leader of the upper house, replacing ex-finance minister Mr Tudehope.

Premier Chris Minns said he had a shared responsibility to work with the new opposition leader to guide policy decisions and improve the state.

"All I care about is making NSW as good as it can be ... so I take the position seriously, it's a very difficult job," Mr Minns told reporters on Thursday.

Earlier this month, junior coalition partner the NSW Nationals re-elected leader Paul Toole and deputy Bronnie Taylor during their own party room meeting.


Disclaimer

The content, including but not limited to any articles, news, quotes, information, data, text, reports, ratings, opinions, images, photos, graphics, graphs, charts, animations and video (Content) is a service of Kalkine Media Limited, Company No. 12643132 (“Kalkine Media, we or us”) and is available for personal and non-commercial use only. Kalkine Media is an appointed representative of Kalkine Limited, who is authorized and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 579414). The non-personalized advice given by Kalkine Media through its Content does not in any way endorse or recommend individuals, investment products or services suitable for your personal financial situation. You should discuss your portfolios and the risk tolerance level appropriate for your personal financial situation, with a qualified financial planner and/or adviser. No liability is accepted by Kalkine Media or Kalkine Limited and/or any of its employees/officers, for any investment loss, or any other loss or detriment experienced by you for any investment decision, whether consequent to, or in any way related to this Content, the provision of which is a regulated activity. Kalkine Media does not intend to exclude any liability which is not permitted to be excluded under applicable law or regulation. Some of the Content on this website may be sponsored/non-sponsored, as applicable. However, on the date of publication of any such Content, none of the employees and/or associates of Kalkine Media hold positions in any of the stocks covered by Kalkine Media through its Content. The views expressed in the Content by the guests, if any, are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kalkine Media.
The content published on Kalkine Media also includes feeds sourced from third-party providers. Kalkine does not assert any ownership rights over the content provided by these third-party sources. The inclusion of such feeds on the Website is for informational purposes only. Kalkine does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the content obtained from third-party feeds. Furthermore, Kalkine Media shall not be held liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content obtained from third-party feeds, nor for any damages or losses arising from the use of such content. Some of the images/music/video that may be used in the Content are copyright to their respective owner(s). Kalkine Media does not claim ownership of any of the pictures displayed/music or video used in the Content unless stated otherwise. The images/music/video that may be used in the Content are taken from various sources on the internet, including paid subscriptions or are believed to be in public domain. We have used reasonable efforts to accredit the source wherever it was indicated or was found to be necessary.
This disclaimer is subject to change without notice. Users are advised to review this disclaimer periodically for any updates or modifications.

Sponsored Articles