NSW Liberal council election debacle descends into accusations of factional warfare

Fallout over the council election blunder is leaking into the federal domain, with the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, keen to ensure the organisation is fit to fight the next election. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP

The New South Wales Liberals’ failure to nominate in some local council elections has spilled over into accusations of factional warfare, with moderates warning a review should not be used as a pretext to dump the president, Don Harwin, or usher in federal intervention.

Brian Loughnane, the former federal Liberal director and reviewer of the 2022 election defeat, has been called in to examine the nomination failure, for which state director Richard Shields was sacked.