‘It’s a grey wash’: Liberals frustrated over preselections in NSW and Victoria

MPs say candidates need to better represent the community, after Natalie Ward loses preselection battle

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Senior figures in the New South Wales Liberal party are increasingly frustrated that its own membership may hobble its chances of re-election, after another woman lost a preselection contest under rules introduced with the backing of the former prime minister Tony Abbott.

On Monday night the state's roads minister, Natalie Ward, lost a preselection battle for the ultra-safe seat of Davidson to a former Mike Baird staffer, Matt Cross, by 85 votes to 95, under NSW's one-member-one-vote rules.

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