Exclusive: Independents pose ‘ever-present risk’ in Sydney, say NSW Liberals | AlexSmithSMH
One of the NSW government’s most senior Liberals has given a stark warning that Sydney seats are under threat from independents who should not be dismissed ahead of the March state election. As the troubled NSW division of the Liberal Party reels from the loss of three federal seats to teal independents, Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes said state MPs face similar challenges.
Stokes, whose northern beaches seat of Pittwater was previously held by an independent, said while well-funded teal independents would unlikely be a threat, strong community activists could be. NSW has optional preferential voting, which can make it more difficult for independents to win without the boost from preferences. And unlike the federal system, the state has strict election spending caps that limit all candidates from major cash splashes. Senior NSW Liberal minister Rob Stokes says there is always a threat from independents at a state level.However, Stokes said history has shown that northern Sydney has been prepared to back independents, particularly in seats along the coastal areas. “Given I faced an independent, I know there is an ever-present risk of independents in seats like Pittwater and Manly and other coastal peninsula seats where there is one road in and one road out, and there is a strong sense of local identity,” Stokes said. “The teal independents did well because they bring a level of co-ordination and commonality on some of society’s big challenges like climate change and integrity. “The state Liberals have a demonstrated record of addressing these themes in government but we should not take the result on Saturday as a reason to congratulate ourselves or rest on our laurels.”In NSW, the teal independents won three seats: Allegra Spender took Wentworth in the eastern suburbs; Kylea Tink won North Sydney; and Sophie Scamps won Mackellar in the Northern Beaches.“There is always an independent threat,” Wilson said. “I think it is unlikely that Climate 200 would target us because we have a strong record on climate and integrity. But it would be ignorant to avoid that groundswell of support that the teal independents generated.” Environment Minister James Griffin said Liberals in NSW must continue to be good local members with policies that focus on the needs of their electorates. “There was a message for the federal government on the weekend, but equally we are working hard in NSW to ensure we are listening to a broad section of community and reflecting those concerns in our policies,” Griffin, the MP for Manly, said.Willoughby MP Tim James, who only just managed to beat an independent in a byelection earlier this year, said that being a strong local member was the key weapon to beating independents. “The key lesson from Saturday is that the support of the community can never be taken for granted,” James said. “We must always be listening to the views of the community and seeking to be a strong and effective advocate for those we represent.” However, Liberal MPs believe James, who suffered a 20 per cent swing against him, is nervous about his re-election chances after he asked Premier Dominic Perrottet in a party room meeting if there were concerns about the threat from independents. One MP, not allowed to speak publicly on party room discussions, said Perrottet’s response was that he did not believe they posed a major problem for the Liberals. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights.
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