Liberal candidate Melanie Gibbons says her friendship with Gareth Ward is 'fine' after being hand-picked by the premier to try and defeat him in the seat of Kiama.
While repeatedly saying he would not accept Mr Ward's vote in the case of a minority government, on Monday the premier went even further when he told reporters in Sydney he would support a fresh motion to suspend him "if that situation is not resolved"."I was deeply shocked and offended by those remarks because it shows a lack of respect for the well-established legal principle that you are innocent until proven guilty," he said.
"And it is also denying the will of the people of the Kiama electorate to have Mr Ward represent them." Mr Croxford, who is a close friend of Mr Ward, said he did not know if he would face internal party sanction for speaking out on the issue.Preference deals 'for party to decide' Another senior Liberal told the ABC local branch members felt "blindsided" by the premier's decision to drop in Ms Gibbons as a candidate.The premier said he had not been made aware of those requests.
On Thursday after the ballot had been drawn, reporters made a beeline for the new Liberal candidate to ask questions.She confirmed Mr Perrottet had convinced her to run but would not reveal details of persuasive conversation.Ms Gibbons clarified she lived 84 kilometres from the seat and would "put the house on the market" and move to it if she won, adding it was "very easy to move".When asked about her friendship with Mr Ward, Ms Gibbons said it remained.
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