Federal Liberal Party Takes Over NSW Division

The federal Liberal executive will take control of the NSW division for a period of 10 months starting September 12 due to the state party's failure to nominate 140 candidates for upcoming local government elections. This intervention, prompted by a scathing review from former federal party director Brian Loughnane, led to the appointment of three senior politicians—Alan Stockdale, Rob Stokes, and Richard Alston—as a management committee. The NSW division has until the following Thursday to comply with the federal directive. The reappointment of former state director Chris Stone is also part of the restructuring efforts. Critics within the party have expressed disappointment over the lack of female representation in the new committee. The federal executive emphasized the importance of restoring the party's organizational integrity ahead of the next federal election, due by May 2025.