NSW by-elections: Liberal Party pre-selection delays mean head start for other candidates – ABC Online

By Jean Kennedy

Posted March 05, 2017 16:52:49

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has defended the Liberal Party's pre-selection process, despite conceding a head start to political rivals in two looming by-elections.

The seats of North Shore and Manly will up for grabs on April 8.

Both of the Sydney electorates had been held by high-profile Liberal candidates on safe margins: former health minister Jillian Skinner won North Shore in 1994 and former premier Mike Baird had represented Manly since 2007.

However, the seats also have long histories of being held by independents and the duo's retirement from politics has cracked the contests open.

Today, the Greens unveiled Clara Williams-Roldan, 25, as their candidate for Manly while Mosman Councillor Carolyn Corrigan, who is standing as an independent, is also on the campaign trail.

The Liberal Party will announce its candidate for Manly on March 13 and North Shore on March 15.

The ABC understands both contests have been plagued by powerplays and disputes within the Liberal Party.

The delays have not been helped by the NSW Liberal Party's complicated pre-selection process, in which a special panel picks candidates.

But Ms Berejiklian said she respected local party members' rights to choose their candidates.

"I think local residents in this community, and all communities, know our track record as a Government, they know my track record, and I'm looking forward to welcoming the candidates next week," she said.

There will also be a by-election in the central coast electorate of Gosford on April 8.

The ABC has confirmed Labor will not stand candidates in the Manly and North Shore by-elections.

Liesl Tesch, the Labor candidate for Gosford, was not picked by rank-and-file pre-selection.

Speaking in Manly, federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale was keen to challenge the Premier in one of her key policy areas housing affordability.

"Young people are being screwed over," he said.

"Here's an opportunity to elect somebody to represent young people across this state and to ensure they have a voice in the state parliament."

Topics: government-and-politics, political-parties, liberals, state-parliament, parliament, electoral-system, elections, greens, sydney-2000, manly-2095, gosford-2250, nsw

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NSW by-elections: Liberal Party pre-selection delays mean head start for other candidates - ABC Online