Some dismissed the chatter as scuttlebutt associated with a tough preselection, but others took it more seriously. One former MP urged at least one current MP to exercise caution with Amon, who had already been elected.
However, other Liberals, including some close to Amon, said they were blindsided by the allegations when they became public on Friday. One said they were “completely stunned”.
Loading
Amon did not return calls or messages on Saturday but in a statement on Friday, said: “I deny all charges and will make my case in the courts, not in the media. Accordingly, I will make no further comment on the case.”
The 10 charges also included two counts of indecent assault of a person under 16, two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child between the ages of 10 and 14 and committing an act of indecency with a person under 16.
The charges relate to the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy at an address in Mona Vale over a two-month period in 2017.
Amon became a shadow assistant minister for three portfolios in May 2023, including youth and housing, and took on two additional portfolios – transport and infrastructure – in July of this year.
His exit from the seat of Pittwater means a byelection will be held, likely on October 19, alongside byelections for Hornsby and Epping to fill vacancies created by the departures of Matt Kean and Dominic Perrottet.
On Saturday, most Liberals were resigned to losing the seat, which Amon won over independent Jacqui Scruby by just 300 votes. Stokes had held it by a margin of 20 per cent.
Potential candidates
Names circulating as potential Liberal candidates on the weekend included Claire Longley, the daughter of former Pittwater MP Jim Longley, whom Stokes backed in 2022 but who was ruled out by an administrative issue with her party membership.
Outgoing northern beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn was also touted as a contender, though senior Liberals have been wooing her to run for the federal seat of Mackellar against incumbent teal independent Sophie Scamps.
Loading
Ryburn was supposed to run for the northern beaches mayoralty but was a victim of the Liberal Party’s failure to lodge all nominations by the deadline. Upper house member Natasha McLaren-Jones and another northern beaches councillor, Michael Gencher, were also suggested for the seat.
The allegations against Amon and his subsequent resignation have compounded despondency among northern beaches Liberals following the council nomination debacle and the party’s dwindling electoral fortunes on the beaches.
They lost the state seat of Wakehurst last year to independent Michael Regan and the federal seats of Warringah and Mackellar to teal independents.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Source Agencies
