Change of Liberal leader breathes new life into NSW politics

41 minutes ago 1

Editorial

November 24, 2025 — 3.57pm

The election of Kellie Sloane to the leadership of the NSW Liberals has greatly enhanced the opposition’s chances of taking the fight to the Minns Labor government.

The Liberals have suffered a form of rigor mortis since the defeat of the Dominic Perrottet-led Coalition government in the 2023 election, a lamentable situation that demanded change.

Perrottet’s replacement, Mark Speakman, is a decent man who suffered the fate of many political leaders installed by a party that had lost an election. He failed to cut through as Labor embarked on its agenda and was hampered by poor polling, undermined by colleagues and a Liberal penchant for missteps.

The Coalition teetered towards unravelling, party headquarters totally botched local government nominations, and when the Kiama byelection in September gave Labor a handy extra seat, the media started spruiking first-term Sloane as a contender. His days were numbered.

Speakman graciously stepped down on Friday, saying Sloane was the best person to deliver “renewal and regeneration” to the besieged party, but not before speaking the words the Liberals dare not utter: “I faced the statistical unlikelihood of a first-term opposition winning an election. I have faced the brand damage that has emanated from Canberra [who have been in] disarray since the election. There’s no doubt that any infighting federally will affect our brand in NSW.”

His parting words suggest if he had performed with such precision and shaken off the Liberal internecine brawling that followed the federal election loss in May and got on with the job of holding the Minns government to account, his leadership might have proven more long-lasting.

That said, Speakman’s diagnosis is spot on and contains important pointers for Sloane in the next 16 months until the NSW state election.

She has eschewed an out-of-touch federal Coalition and joined other moderate Liberals who believe the path to power is down the middle of the road.

Sloane and the newly installed leader of the Victorian Liberals, Jess Wilson, have both announced they support net zero, aligning themselves with conservative governments led by David Crisafulli in Queensland and Jeremy Rockliff in Tasmania, which are committed to net-zero policies, while leaving their Canberra colleagues to indulge in infighting, perpetually on the verge of dumping federal leader Sussan Ley.

The change in Macquarie Street is a line in the sand telling the voters of NSW that painting the state party with the same shades highlighting the federal shambles no longer applies. It is also recognition that she must win back women – the majority of whom preferred Labor at the most recent federal election, as well as redeem the traditional heartland seats that have been claimed by the teals.

In her comments since being elected leader, Sloane has indicated she intended to give Minns a good run for his money. That certainly will be a new sensation for Labor, and a new mission for the NSW Liberals. That’s a very good thing.

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