NSW Liberal Party Director Richard Shields Sacked

The New South Wales Liberal Party has been rocked by a significant nomination blunder, resulting in the sacking of state director Richard Shields who failed to nominate over 130 candidates for local government elections. Party president Don Harwin announced the unanimous decision to terminate Shields' employment due to the 'mind-boggling' error, which left eight councils without Liberal candidates and cost the party potential seats. Shields, who had resisted calls for resignation, attributed the failure to miscommunication within the party leadership, suggesting a review of the nomination process is necessary. The party now faces a crisis just four weeks before elections, with over four million voters expected to cast their ballots. Critics, including opposition leader Mark Speakman, have expressed concerns about the party's ability to govern effectively amidst this turmoil. The electoral commission is reviewing the situation, as the party seeks to address the damage to its reputation and prepare for the upcoming elections.