NSW Liberals prepare for challenge as Speakman’s hold on leadership disintegrates

3 months ago 20

NSW Liberal powerbrokers held urgent late-night talks with Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Wednesday, amid fears a challenge to his leadership was imminent.

Moderate MPs Chris Rath and James Wallace as well as centre-right MP Scott Farlow were seen filing into Speakman’s office on Wednesday after the NSW Press Gallery’s annual event. Liberal MPs were telling colleagues the Cronulla MP’s leadership was over following the talks.

Kellie Sloane is said to have the numbers to replace Mark Speakman as NSW Liberals’ leader.

A source close to one of the MPs, who would not divulge details of discussions, said the meeting was to canvass “the state of the party” but also confirmed the urgency was sparked because of strong-held fears Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens was preparing to challenge Speakman.

Henskens has been seeking support from MPs to replace Speakman, but Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane has the numbers in the NSW Liberal party room to win a spill motion.

The powerbrokers, who back Sloane to take on the top job, have been desperate to stop a challenge because they do not want to “embarrass” Speakman, who they say has not lifted the party’s performance but has not made any major missteps.

One moderate denied there was anything amiss in the succession of meetings, first reported by The Daily Telegraph, held with Speakman: “Effectively, they are reporting Mark’s strongest supporters meet with him as they have every second day.”

Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens could be preparing to challenge Speakman.

Asked by this masthead if Speakman’s leadership was terminal, one senior MP texted: “Looks that way.”

However, chatter among MPs, staff and journalists at the Chatham House event on Wednesday was all around when, not if, Speakman would be pushed out. Senior Liberal sources said Sloane had begun preparing her staff and policy platform for when she eventually took the leadership.

Sloane also does not want to launch a challenge, but has told colleagues she would be prepared to take on the job if a vacancy arises.

In this scenario, according to Liberals close to Sloane, an extraordinary party room meeting would be called for Friday or Monday morning to elect a new leader.

On Tuesday, The Herald detailed plans in the Sloane camp for emissaries would be dispatched to tell the opposition leader on Thursday that his leadership was untenable.

In this scenario, according to Liberals close to Sloane, an extraordinary party room meeting would be called for Friday or Monday morning to elect a new leader.

A leadership spill could only take place at a party room meeting, and with no more scheduled this week, Speakman or his deputy Natalie Ward would need to call one, or at least 11 MPs would be required to sign a request for an extraordinary meeting.

Members of the party’s right wing, supporting Henskens, have been effectively cut out of negotiations over a post-Speakman future, one conservative source said. The MP concluded that the status quo would largely remain the same once the leaders change.

If Speakman is deposed, both the Coalition’s leaders will be replaced within days. Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh became Nationals leader this week after the shock resignation of Dugald Saunders, who left the job citing personal reasons.

It could spark a significant reshuffle of the Coalition’s shadow cabinet, with Sloane and Singh both able to pick their portfolios.

Angst about Speakman’s poor polling numbers and failure to heed advice has aggrieved colleagues. Despite a small bump in his preferred premier rating, the NSW Coalition’s primary vote is languishing on 28 per cent.

Some Liberals are convinced that Speakman, a former attorney-general and environment minister, has been unable to land a blow on Premier Chris Minns, driven largely by the absence of a sustained and coherent critique of the government.

Sloane, a former journalist turned businesswoman, has been touted as having leadership potential. Having only been elected in March 2023, many colleagues felt she did not have the political experience to take the top job. But with her rivals failing to convince colleagues, Sloane has increasingly become the only realistic prospect.