The Liberal Party’s NSW branch called for the abolition of Warringah,the seat held by Steggall since she ousted former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019,arguing it should be combined with the neighbouring seat of North Sydney,won by Tink from Liberal moderate Trent Zimmerman in 2022.
The party is also calling for the abolition of Blaxland,the western Sydney seat held by Education Minister Jason Clare on a 14 per cent margin,by absorbing it into Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke’s Watson seat,as well the creation of a new south-western Sydney seat of Bird Walton.
“Our suggestions are reasonable,with both Liberal and Labor parties having one of their traditional seats abolished,” NSW state Liberal Party director Chris Stone said in a statement.
Steggall,who increased her margin by 3.7 per cent in 2022’s election,disagreed:“It shows how little regard the Liberal Party has for the people of Warringah,their interests and needs.”
Low population growth across NSW means the state is to lose one of its 47 electorates,while one of Melbourne’s metropolitan electorates also must go.
Tink used her submission to the commission to argue North Sydney’s boundaries should be pushed north into the Liberal-held Bradfield,to take in Chatswood and the Willoughby council area. Part of the council already sits in North Sydney.