Local Libs Want Their Voice Heard

In the lead-up to the upcoming local council elections, discontent is brewing among grassroots members of the Liberal Party in the Hawkesbury. Many long-time members are voicing their frustration over what they perceive as a disregard for their views, particularly concerning the endorsement process for the party’s ticket at the upcoming local government elections.

The Hawkesbury Post (HP) spoke to current and former Liberal Party members – on the condition of anonymity – all of whom felt they had been marginalised by Liberal Party headquarters and were deeply dissatisfied with the direction of the local party.

Local Liberals are incensed that the ticket of six candidates to be presented at the elections on September 14th was drawn up without consultation, or a vote. Additionally the newly scheduled local Liberal Party meeting to present the candidates is days after the close of nominations meaning any dissent or debate will moot.

Liberal Mayor Sarah McMahon announced on Facebook on August 2: “I will be running again in the next election.” Today she launched her election campaign on Facebook. 

According to a long-serving member of the local Liberal Party, many members feel increasingly sidelined, with their voices and opinions being disregarded in favor of decisions made behind closed doors. “I thought our party was a broad church where different opinions would be welcome. Unfortunately, I found that wasn’t the case,” the former member lamented, echoing sentiments that seem to resonate with other members.

This disillusionment has been compounded by the recent handling of the endorsement process. Despite the requirement for an endorsement meeting by the middle of last week, no such meeting has occurred, leaving members without a say in who will represent the party on the ticket. “It seems that Sarah McMahon will once again take the top spot on the ticket without any endorsement by the local membership,” the former member noted, highlighting a key source of frustration.

“There has not been a meeting of Liberals concerning Council since December 2022. I know of a couple of newer members of the branches who would make excellent Councillors – involved in the community and decent people. When the party opened nominations they expected to be a part of the conversation about standing at a preselection, but they were completely shut out,” another local Liberal Party member said.

Current members of the local Liberal Party have also voiced their concerns, with one long-serving member, who chose to remain anonymous, criticising McMahon’s leadership. “The rules are changed without any regard to the membership and it’s causing a lot of anger among the rank and file,” the member said, adding that the lack of transparency and communication from the party’s leadership has left many feeling disenfranchised.

“There’s no way I’ll support Sarah,” the member said, citing a lack of trust and the belief that McMahon’s leadership is not beneficial for the party or the community. “She has not got the support that she thinks she has.”

The situation has been further exacerbated McMahon’s recent arrest. No charges have been laid however McMahon remains under an interim Apprehended Violence Order in relation to her former boyfriend Matthew Bennet. That situation is “disgraceful,” one party member said. Despite this, the expectation that McMahon will lead the ticket has left many local Liberals feeling that they have no control over the party’s direction.

The HP understands that a meeting of the Hawkesbury Liberal’s Local Government Conference was scheduled for the 21st of July but was abruptly cancelled when the legal issues surrounding the Mayor and her partner blew up. A rescheduled meeting has been called for August 17th. An email to members said; “At this meeting, we will be introducing the candidates who were successful in their nominations for winnable positions on the Liberal Party ticket at the upcoming Local Council Election in September.” 

Despite disillusionment with the local and state branches of the party, the former member expressed continued support for the federal Liberal Party, whose philosophies closely align with their own. “I’m encouraged by the direction I’m seeing the federal body take. But I think local government and state government still have a lot of work to do.”

The growing dissatisfaction within the ranks of the Hawkesbury Liberal Party raises questions about the party’s unity and its ability to present a united front to voters. Neither the Liberal Party State Director, Richard Shields or NSW President, Don Harwin responded to questions from the Hawkesbury Post. [The questions are listed at the end of this article].

 While the party is expected to secure typically strong Liberal support, the growing dissatisfaction among its base could lead to a shift in support. “It’s becoming a bigger issue, and the state executive needs to consider why people are feeling so unhappy at a local level,” one local member told the HP.

Questions from the HP the NSW Liberal Party refused to answer: 

• Has the Hawkesbury Local Government Ticket been put before the local membership for ratification at an endorsement meeting pursuant to Section 21.4.1 (“PROCEDURE WHERE A SINGLE NOMINATION IS RECEIVED”) in the Party Constitution?
• If not, why?
• If it is because the matter was urgent and had to be determined by the State Executive, why was urgency required? What circumstances prevented the matter from being presented to the members of the Hawkesbury LGC in a timely fashion at any point within the last 6 months?

• Mayor Sarah McMahon used her official Facebook page on the 1st of August to announce she was a candidate, but this has occurred without any announcement from the Party, either locally or from the State Executive. This is both a breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct, which prohibits official Council channels being used for campaigning, and of the Party’s media policy – could you pls confirm. What action have you taken in this regard?
• Many local Liberals we have spoken to are angry that they have not had the chance to discuss, interview, question or choose the members of the ticket. They have told us that if an endorsement meeting were held, they would vote to not endorse a ticket at the upcoming election, with the Mayor on the ticket. What is your response to this?
• The local Hawkesbury LG Conference has not met once since December 14th, 2022. How can it be said that the ticket is representative of the wishes of the local members?