Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane told Mark Speakman this afternoon that she would like to take over as NSW Liberal leader, and will now have Speakman’s full support, after he ‘reluctantly agreed’.
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In, a number of colleagues had indicated to me their preference that we have renewal and regeneration and a new leader. Being the opposition leader is an extraordinarily difficult job. It's also an extraordinary privilege. Very few people in New South Wales ever get to be the leader of a major party, and it has been an enormous privilege for me to have that leadership. At least up until the May federal election, we were competitive. We were pretty much neck and neck with the government ��1 or 2% and I believe. Spot the. Activity of a couple of dissidents who will always act anonymously. I had almost unanimous support in the Liberal Party. Things have changed since the May election, where opinion polling has gone downwards. Where the brain damage from the federal election has continued. But it is clear after conversations I've had since this morning's media events that many of my colleagues now want to see a change. I don't know who will be the candidates for Liberal Party leader tomorrow at a party room meeting which I hope will be convened. I know Kelly Sloan will be one of those candidates. Kelly spoke with me this afternoon and indicated to me that she wished to take the leadership. She believed that the interests of the party. Would be best served if she took the reins, and I have reluctantly agreed that that is so. Notwithstanding my best efforts, it has now reached the point where it is impossible to get clear air. And no matter what policy announcements I make, no matter how ambitious I am to make sure that the Liberal Party engages with Gen. Z, engages with multicultural community, engages with women, there is just too much white noise that interferes with that message and I will never get the clean air that's needed. Kelly Sloan will be a fantastic leader if selected by the Parliamentary Liberal Party. She is someone I hope will lead the Liberal Party to the next election. She will have my full support, she will have my endorsement and I and I believe she will be the best candidate for the position of leader.
