The New South Wales Liberal Party has taken a desperate measure to avoid a potentially disastrous outcome in the upcoming local elections after a shock bureaucratic failure led to them missing the candidate nomination deadline.
State Liberal Party president Don Harwin has reportedly written to the NSW Electoral Commission requesting a one-week extension to the nomination period to give the party more time to submit the necessary paperwork.
The ABC reports that the commissioner has received the letter and is now “considering” it.
The party missed a midday deadline on Wednesday to nominate up to 140 candidates for next month’s election in a dramatic administrative blunder that has left Liberals furious.
It is understood no Liberal candidate will stand in the local elections in Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches, Shoalhaven and Wollongong.
Meanwhile, partial nominations were only submitted for Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River, Maitland, North Sydney and Penrith.
State Director Richard Shields was fired Thursday night as a result.
Liberal strategists are also concerned that local-level issues could affect federal policy.
State Liberal Party president Don Harwin has reportedly written to the NSW Electoral Commission requesting a one-week extension.
A senior Liberal Party figure said the party’s failure to participate in the Sept. 14 municipal elections would hurt its federal chances next year.
This is especially the case in the marginal federal seats that the Liberals must win or hold to take power.
The source cited Georges River Council, which holds Banks’ seat and is occupied by Liberal MP David Coleman with a 3.2 per cent margin.
The party will also seek to regain the Liberal-turned-Teal seat of Mackellar, which includes Northern Beaches Council, as well as retain Lindsay, which includes Penrith City Council.
Senior Liberals are concerned the incredible gaffe could damage their party’s chances in next year’s federal election.
Gilmore, which includes Shoalhaven City Council, is another key electorate.
Labor’s Fiona Phillips has turned the seat red in the 2022 federal election, but is holding on to an ultra-narrow margin of 0.2 per cent.
Former NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance will stand as a candidate for the seat next year.