The NSW Liberal Party’s state director, Richard Shields, has been sacked for failing to nominate candidates for the upcoming local government elections. The state executive unanimously decided to terminate Shields following the “monumental debacle” of missing nomination deadlines, leaving several councils without Liberal candidates. NSW Liberal president Don Harwin emphasized the immediacy of the termination.
Shields attributed the error to a lack of resources. In response, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman criticized the party’s administration and called for Shields to step down. He highlighted the director’s failure to fulfill basic administrative responsibilities. Lane Cove Mayor Scott Bennison also voiced dissatisfaction with party politics.