NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane and federal leader Sussan Ley made their historic appearance at the party’s state conference in Sydney on Saturday, rallying their base for a families-focused offensive against their respective rival Labor governments.
Just nine days after Sloane was anointed leader, the first female duo to helm the state and federal party entered the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton on the Park to a standing ovation from the Liberal faithful. But Sloane’s predecessor, Mark Speakman, was not among them.
NSW Liberal Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane and Federal Liberal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley arrive at the NSW Liberal State Council Meeting in Sydney on Saturday.Credit: Peter Rae
Sloane vowed to defeat Labor Premier Chris Minns at the next election, scheduled for March 2027, with a campaign that meant “families would be at the heart of everything we do”. She used the words “families” and “family” 20 times in her 20-minute speech.
“Many people have suggested to me that it can’t be won, and history would say that it can’t be won,” the Vaucluse MP and former journalist said.
“But let me tell you this: I did not put my hand up for this role to be a back-row seat to history because I want to change history with our team.”
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Sloane thanked the absent Speakman for his leadership, calling the Cronulla MP a friend and a strong part of the party’s campaign over the next 16 months. She touted her “youthful team”, with six Liberals under 40 in NSW parliament.
Her pitch to voters included expanding the Sydney Metro and regional transport links, increasing housing supply through planning reform, reducing taxes for developers, and reinstating Active Kids vouchers.
She claimed her party was “leading from opposition”, with Labor doing a “copy-and-paste” job on several Liberal bills, including her own strategy to tackle illicit tobacco, and legislation to protect historic monuments, which she credited to MP Alister Henskens.
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