A New Leader for the NSW Liberals
In a decisive move to revitalise its fortunes, the New South Wales Liberal Party has elected Kellie Sloane as its new leader. The first-term MP for Vaucluse was chosen unopposed during a party room meeting on Friday, signalling a desire for renewal within the opposition ranks.
A Meteoric Ascent to the Top
The leadership transition unfolded rapidly. Just a day prior, on Thursday, the former leader Mark Speakman announced his resignation, ultimately endorsing his moderate faction colleague, Ms Sloane. This cleared the path for her uncontested victory after the conservative candidate, Shadow Attorney-General Alister Henskens, withdrew from the race.
Ms Sloane, a 52-year-old mother of three, brings a diverse background to the role. Before entering politics, she enjoyed a decades-long career as a journalist and news presenter for Channel Nine. More recently, she led the not-for-profit organisation Life Education NSW. Her political journey saw her secure the eastern Sydney seat of Vaucluse in the 2023 state election after an unsuccessful pre-selection bid for Willoughby in 2022.
An Uphill Battle Ahead
Ms Sloane's appointment is part of a broader trend, coming just days after first-term MP Jess Wilson deposed a male leader in Victoria's Liberal party. However, the challenge before her is formidable. Recent polling indicates the coalition would lose further ground to Labor if an election were held imminently.
Election analyst Ben Raue provided a stark assessment, telling AAP, 'They are in a pretty dire spot at the moment.' He cautioned that a simple leadership change may not be enough to reverse the party's fortunes unless the leader was the specific cause of its unpopularity.
History also poses a significant obstacle; no first-term opposition has won an election in NSW or federally since the 1930s. Ms Sloane will now work alongside the new Nationals leader, Gurmesh Singh, to steer the coalition towards the next NSW election in March 2027.
