Mark Speakman calls on NSW Liberal director to resign after ‘monumental stuff-up’ over council elections

NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman has called for Liberal director Richard Shields to resign after the party failed to nominate candidates for a swathe of local government elections. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The New South Wales Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, says the party’s state director, Richard Shields, must resign immediately after a “monumental stuff-up” over next month’s local government elections.

The Liberal party missed the noon Wednesday deadline to lodge the necessary paperwork to nominate candidates, meaning there will be no Liberal candidates in eight councils in Greater Sydney and regional NSW at the 14 September elections.