In an email to party members on Sunday afternoon, Liberal president Don Harwin reiterated his commitment to legal remedy if the electoral commission did not budge: “I assure you that I, the state executive, and the secretariat staff, are fully committed to pursuing every single option, including legal action, to rectify this situation.”
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After one of the worst mishaps in the NSW Liberal Party’s history, senior Liberal HQ staff have searched for remedy, asking for mercy while threatening the prospect of legal action.
The party’s first request for an extension, which raised concerns about how the electoral notices and nomination forms were issued, was knocked back by the Electoral Commission on Saturday afternoon. Acting commissioner Matthew Phillips did not provide a rationale for the decision.
Speaking at a media conference announcing the retention of the New Year’s cricket Test in Sydney for another seven years, former Liberal premier and Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said the farce was “hard to believe” and implored the party to undertake a root and branch investigation to ensure it never happened again.
“You have to get to the bottom and make sure that never happens again. That’s one side, but the other side is, I’m heartbroken because I know many candidates who have put their heart and soul into their communities, and they’re not going to be given the chance. And that’s a tragedy,” he said.
Premier Chris Minns with former premier Mike Baird at the SCG on Sunday.Credit: Edwina Pickles
“It’s also … a tragedy for the local community. Many incredible, hard-working councillors that have done first class jobs and would [continue to do so] don’t have the opportunity next four years to do that.”
The NSW Liberal Party terminated the employment of state director Richard Shields without compensation in a hastily convened extraordinary meeting of the state executive late on Thursday night. In a statement, Harwin said Shields’ failure to explain how the disaster occurred underpinned the swift decision to sack him.
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