Premier Dominic Perrottet risks losing the support of the Liberal Party’s conservative base by appointing Matt Kean as his deputy.
Right-winger David Elliott dropped out of the campaign, stating the Premier didn’t want him.
Stuart Ayres quit last week over charges he improperly recruited John Barilaro for a lucrative US trade post. He rejects the allegations.
Stuart Ayres quit last week over charges he improperly recruited John Barilaro for a lucrative US trade post. He rejects the allegations.
As Treasurer and a moderate, Mr. Kean may have looked the natural option to balance Mr. Perrottet, a right-wing Liberal.
The party’s conservative base dislikes Mr. Kean, who they regard as too left-wing.
Mr Kean is close to ex-PM Malcom Turnbull, who is equally unpopular with the party’s base, and sought to put him to the Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board before a backbench mutiny.
After his victory, Mr. Kean touted his June budget plans, including universal pre-kindergarten, and promised to fight for a’more prosperous future’ for NSW people.
Mr Perrottet said he was a’strong team member’ and happy to have him as deputy.
Asked whether Mr Kean would deter conservative Liberal supporters, the premier stated, “The Liberal party has two sides” and echoed former PM John Howard: “The Liberal party is at its finest when it embraces its liberal and conservative traditions.”
Before Mr Kean’s election, the Premier sought to settle internal dissension and avoid a poll, so he directed centre-right candidate Elliott to withdraw.
Mr. Kean’s nomination will be marketed to the public as appealing to the center, especially environmentally conscience voters who helped oust the Morrison government in May by voting teal independents in traditionally safe Liberal seats.
The Treasurer criticized the Morrison administration on integrity and climate, saying, ‘Not having answers to significant concerns like climate change is not acceptable.’
He’s even advocated a ‘new capitalism’ that charts the ‘environmental and social advantages of our actions, not simply the financial rewards’
Some worry his nomination as deputy liberal leader may drive die-hard Liberals to tiny right-wing parties like One Nation.
Mark Latham, leader of NSW One Nation, hopes so, calling Mr. Kean a ‘vote loser’ for the Liberals.
Matt Kean is a huge vote loss for the Liberals, according to all input. Mr. Latham said he’s far left, awakened, and green.
The senior lawmaker thinks Perrottet will lose to Labor in March.
‘It’s another evidence of a failing government. They’ve lost touch with voters. He stated they’ve lost touch with their party base.
Liberal voters said they wouldn’t vote for the party with Kean as deputy.
Mr Elliott said Premier Perrottet had urged him to drop out of the deputy leadership competition.
He didn’t urge me to withdraw, but he didn’t want a ballot. The frontbencher told 2GB he respects that.
I told him I appreciate his choice of deputy. Today I ate Humble Pie. Mr. Kean championed NSW’s green transition as treasurer.
In June’s state budget, he added $38 million to NSW’s electric vehicle policy, bringing total expenditure to almost $500 million.
The money will be used on extra street, apartment, and dedicated charging spots.
More charges would enable more EV users to benefit from less operating costs and a cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable road network, said Mr. Kean.
You’ll never be far from a charger on our key routes, in regional locations, apartment complexes, and kerbsides in cities with restricted off-street parking, he noted.