NSW Liberals in ‘poor shape’, hopeful for next election

Phoebe Loomes | March 28, 2023

A party powerbroker says the NSW Liberals have been left in “pretty poor shape” after losing the state election but believes a return to government is possible in four years.

Former Liberal minister Michael Photios said a series of successful Liberal premiers set the party up well to return to the government benches after a single term out of office.

“The coalition is in a pretty poor state but the seamless, cohesive nature of the change of leadership in NSW from O’Farrell, to Baird, to Berejiklian, and an outstanding performance by the conservative leader (Dominic) Perrottet has set us up with a great track record,” Mr Photios told 2GB on Tuesday.

“Every time there’s a change of leadership federally, there’s blood all over the floor,” he said.

“We’ll land with 30 seats, a party room of 50, with 42 per cent women – we got there without a quota, and we’re ready for the next election.”

Factional fights between the party’s left and right wing, and delays to nominate several key candidates had not hurt the party during its campaign, he said.

“There’s always been shenanigans around pre-selections. There always has been and I promise you always will be.”

It comes as three re-elected MPs look likely to run to succeed former premier Dominic Perrottet as the Liberal leader, including Alister Henskens, conservative former planning minister Anthony Roberts and moderate former attorney-general Mark Speakman.

However, a partyroom meeting where MPs vote for a new Liberal leader cannot take place until the seats, and its new MPs are finalised. 

It’s expected the NSW Electoral Commission will finish counting votes from early voting centres and all declared facilities on Tuesday, with only postal votes, absentees, and votes from people who enrolled on the day outstanding.

Liberal MPs are still in the hunt in six electorates, including Terrigal, Ryde, Pittwater, Miranda, Holsworthy and Goulburn. 

The National Party performed well compared to their coalition partner, retaining all but one of their seats.

Asked what the Nationals had done to succeed where the Liberals had failed, Queensland Senator and member of the Nationals Matt Canavan said politicians needed to spend time in communities listening. 

“Listen to the people on the ground more, do what they want,” Mr Canavan said. 

“Stay true to your own values and principles, be authentic to who you are and you generally get rewarded for that.”