Damaged Liberal brand takes another hit as leader quits
Farid Farid and Alex Mitchell |
Kellie Sloane is set to take the reins of the NSW Liberal Party as a second state party leader departs their post in three days.
After days of swirling speculation, Mark Speakman announced his resignation as opposition leader and endorsed the first-term Vaucluse MP to replace him.
Former minister Alister Henskens is also gunning for the position, which will be determined at a party room meeting on Friday.
Mr Speakman dug in on Thursday morning and refused to stand down, before his friend and moderate factional colleague Ms Sloane met with him and declared her intentions to lead.
“She believed the interests of the party would be best served if she took the reins, and I have reluctantly agreed,” he told reporters.
“A number of colleagues had indicated to me their preference that we have renewal and regeneration and a new leader.”
The move against Mr Speakman comes after Victoria’s Liberal opposition this week dumped Brad Battin as leader and installed first-term MP Jess Wilson.
Ms Sloane confirmed she would nominate for the leadership role.
“I have enormous respect for Mark and thank him for his leadership of our party … I appreciate his endorsement of me,” she said in a statement.
Before the resignation, one Liberal MP, speaking to AAP on the condition of anonymity, said it was a necessary move.
“We want to win government and it’s not about the individual, it’s about the team,” the MP said.
“Kellie’s angels need to deliver now and I’m Team Kellie all the way.”
Mr Speakman said it had become impossible for him to get clear air, particularly as in-fighting among the federal Liberal party did serious “brand damage” to the state branch.
The NSW Liberals have committed to net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050, in contrast to their counterparts in Canberra.
“I have faced the brand damage that has emanated from Canberra with disarray since the May election,” he said.
“I’d encourage Kellie and her team to make it clear that whatever is happening in Canberra, here in NSW we are focused on the issues that matter.”
Mr Speakman was animated in a tense question time in parliament on Thursday, while Premier Chris Minns appeared unfazed.
Outside parliament, independent MP Rod Roberts described the roiling leadership spectacle as a “Game of Thrones”.
He cautioned the Liberals needed to move swiftly in order to become an effective opposition with a state election less than 18 months away.
Mr Speakman was elevated to the party’s top job following the 2023 state election, where Mr Minns took control of a minority government.
Polling has suggested the coalition has gone backwards since that result.
Ms Sloane, a former TV news anchor elected to parliament in 2023, has been widely tipped as the most credible challenger, while Mr Henskens has support from the right faction.
The NSW coalition has been in upheaval after the Nationals elected Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh as leader on Tuesday unopposed after Dugald Saunders’ shock resignation for family reasons.
AAP
