NSW Liberal leadership LIVE updates: Kellie Sloane frontrunner to lead party after Mark Speakman steps down

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8.21am

Sussan Ley praises ‘outstanding young woman’ Sloane

By Jessica McSweeney

Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who herself has faced scrutiny over her leadership from colleagues, heaped praise on Kellie Sloane this morning.

“Mark Speakman has been a terrific leader for the Liberals in NSW,” Ley told Sky News.

“Kellie Sloane, who looks set to take on the job, is an outstanding young woman, and we look forward to everyone across the country holding – whether it be state or federal governments – to account for a cost of living crisis.”

Member for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane, 52, is poised to take the leadership of NSW Liberals.

7.56am

Kellie Sloane to be leader in just an hour

By Jessica McSweeney

Kellie Sloane, a former television journalist and chief executive, confirmed yesterday evening she would nominate for the leadership, and is expected to be elected unopposed this morning.

Entering parliament in the 2023 election, Sloane became the opposition health spokeswoman. She’s a frequent feature in opposition press conferences thanks to her shadow health portfolio, pressuring the government on illegal tobacco, the state’s hospitals and aged care.

Recently Sloane, 52, became the target of threats from neo-Nazis after speaking out against their rally outside parliament, and has been an outspoken advocate for the eastern suburbs Jewish community, describing the community as “under siege”.

She’s the woman Liberals hope can pull the party out of its slump. In NSW the Coalition’s primary vote has hovered at around 28 per cent.

You can read more about Sloane’s path to politics in this feature from state political editor Alexandra Smith.

7.35am

Speakman ‘wasn’t cutting through’, says Joyce

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Federal Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the resignation of Mark Speakman, finding that the NSW Liberals “had to make a change” ahead of the March 2027 election.

He also encouraged presumptive successor Kellie Sloane to develop bold policies that offer voters a clear alternative to Labor, after suggesting that Speakman had failed to deliver a quality rebuke of the Minns government during his time at the helm.

“Mark wasn’t going too far,” Joyce told Sky News last night. “It was like a truck on the side of the road with flat tyres, lots of potential, but not travelling anywhere ... it just wasn’t cutting through.”

7.34am

Greiner pays tribute to ‘gracious’ Speakman

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Former NSW premier and Liberal Party elder Nick Greiner has hailed Mark Speakman as a “tireless” servant to the people of NSW, as the party room prepares to elect his successor.

Greiner praised the manner of Speakman’s resignation yesterday, describing it as a “gracious and humble act of someone who always puts the people of this state first”.

Former NSW premier Nick Greiner at the funeral of John Laws.

“Mark took on the leadership following the 2023 election and has led the party with integrity during a challenging period,” said Greiner, who is the chairman of the NSW Liberal Party management committee.

“On behalf of Liberal Party members, I thank Mark for his dedication and hard work; and look forward to his continued contribution to the work of our parliamentary team.”

Speakman plans on remaining in parliament and contesting the next election, but is unsure about remaining on the frontbench.

7.31am

Kellie Sloane set to win Liberal leadership

By Jessica McSweeney

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage from NSW Parliament where Liberal MPs are meeting to elect a new leader after the resignation of opposition leader Mark Speakman.

First term Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane will almost certainly become the new leader, almost three years after she was first elected to parliament.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Mark Speakman resigned as NSW Liberal leader yesterday afternoon, despite a defiant morning of media appearances where he vowed to keep fighting on.
Speakman resigned after losing the support of his moderate colleagues. Sloane met with Speakman yesterday and told him she wanted to take over the leadership.
MPs will vote at a party room meeting at 9am today, where Sloane is expected to stand unopposed.
Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens has previously expressed leadership ambitions to colleagues, but will not put his hand up at today’s meeting.
Speakman said his leadership and policy agenda were clouded by leadership chatter, and urged his colleagues to give the new leader “clear air”.