The NSW Liberal Party is in chaos after the “worst act of mismanagement in the organisation’s history” left it without candidates in the upcoming elections for up to a dozen councils.
Leader Mark Speakman has called on state director Richard Shields to resign after the nomination deadline for the September 14 election was missed, affecting around 140 Liberal candidates and potentially causing many sitting members to lose their seats.
Lane Cove Council Mayor Scott Bennison said he was “fed up” with the party and publicly resigned on live radio on Thursday, the latest gaffe being the final straw after he was booted from the list days ago in favour of a 22-year-old political staffer.
“I’ve left the Liberal Party, I’m fed up with all this factional rubbish,” Bennison, who had been a member since 2007, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
Mr Bennison said he had already sent the email to resign from the Liberals and was dismayed that someone with his experience as a councillor and mayor had been passed over for preselection in favour of a young member of the party.
The staff member is understood to work for Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts.
Mr Bennison said residents had told him they would support him as an independent, so he was “announcing” that he was now officially an independent mayor.
“I say this with a heavy heart… all those hours spent supporting state and federal elections and running campaigns… but the community deserves better than a 22-year staff member.”
Lane Cove Mayor Scott Bennison has quit the Liberal Party after a staff member missed the nomination deadline for up to 140 candidates and was removed from the list in favour of a 22-year-old staff member.
In an email to colleagues, Mr Speakman described the debacle engulfing the party as “the worst act of mismanagement I can imagine in the history of the organisation”.
Mr Shields admitted the error, blamed limited resources for the blunder and apologised to Liberal-backed candidates who had not been nominated.
Officials confirmed the party missed a 12 noon deadline on Wednesday to nominate candidates to represent some of NSW’s largest council areas.
“We’ve had three years to figure this out and we’re still making mistakes… It’s just unbelievable,” Bennison said.
State Liberal leader Mark Speakman is believed to be furious about this and has called for Richard Shields to resign.
The Northern Beaches, Lane Cove, Camden and Campbelltown councils are believed to be affected in Sydney, while voters may also be unable to elect candidates in the Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Penrith and Blue Mountains regional local government areas.
Liberal deputy leader Natalie Ward said she was “open” about what had been “a monumental mistake” ahead of the September 14 election.
“This is unacceptable to our members, it is unacceptable to the candidates (and) it is unacceptable to the voting public who support our party and want to vote for a Liberal member,” he told 2GB.
Some 40 sitting councillors could lose their jobs as a result of the error, according to figures analysed by electoral analyst Ben Raue and reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Speakman has asked Mr Shields to resign.
“There’s no doubt it’s a setback and it’s frustrating,” he said.
“The state director has to be accountable, he is the general director who runs the organization,” he said.