Key Points
- The Liberal party failed to nominate over 130 of its candidates for NSW local government elections.
- Eight local councils will go to upcoming statewide elections without a Liberal candidate on the ticket.
- The NSW Electoral Commission said it was unable to extend the legislated deadline for nominations.
Former rugby league international-turned councillor John Dorahy, 69, is one of about 135 candidates across NSW left off election ballots after what senior Liberals have described as the worst act of mismanagement in party history.
John Dorahy, who had been selected as the Liberal candidate for Wollongong’s mayoral race, is among those who will no longer be in the November election ballots. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
State director Richard Shields on Thursday labelled as “premature”, calls for his resignation, and pointed blame at the party’s de facto board led by president Don Harwin.
“There must be a proper review of the nomination process to establish the full facts,” he added.
How serious was the mistake?
Northern Beaches, Lane Cove, Camden and Campbelltown councils are among those affected in Sydney, along with regional voters at Cessnock, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains.
More than four million people are expected to vote in September’s election. Source: AAP / Craig Golding
Several councils overlap with safe Liberal seats in state parliament.
The mess also means a ward in Penrith – where 10,000 voters chose Liberal at the last election – will be automatically won by the only-Labor nominees.
‘Mind-boggling’
Adding to the sting, the former deputy mayor says no one from party headquarters had offered an explanation.
Federal party leader Peter Dutton suggested there needed to be at least two resignations.
