Matt Kean warns of Trump-like shift in Liberal party if teal independents oust moderates

NSW treasurer Matt Kean says it is important to keep moderate voices such as Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman in parliament this election ‘if the Liberal party is going to continue to be a modern party’. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The New South Wales Liberal treasurer Matt Kean has warned of the dangers of a Trump-like shift to the right within the conservative party, as he pleaded with voters not to boot out moderate MPs in favour of teal independents on 21 May.

The plea was supported by the state’s premier, Dominic Perrottet, who said voters would regret stepping away from the party if independents won seats over moderate Liberals.