NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has responded to a last-minute problem that could prevent the Prime Minister from calling the federal election.
Mr Perrottet said the timing of the election was of “no concern” to him as a long-running Liberal Party legal brawl approaches a High Court climax on Friday.
The NSW Premier teamed up with Scott Morrison to handpick Liberal candidates, overriding the party‘s state division and prompting a member to launch legal action.
Matthew Camenzuli, the former state executive member who brought the suit, wants the preselections deemed illegitimate.
Mr Camenzuli was later expelled over the court action.
He will get one last shot at overturning the outcome when the matter is heard by the High Court on Friday afternoon.
The result could impact the Prime Minister’s decision on when to call the next election.
“It's really not a matter of concern for me,” Mr Perrottet said of the election timing.
“I played a role (in selecting the candidates), I was asked, and I'm happy to assist after the debacle of the NSW division in not selecting candidates.
“And it's great to see now that we have candidates in seats because if you want to vote Liberal in the next election, you actually need someone to vote for.
“So that was a good start for the division to actually now get candidates in those seats.”
Mr Camenzuli‘s lawyers have argued the party’s federal arm had no right to take contrxjmtzywol of the NSW wing to preselect candidates, including sitting members Alex Hawke, Trent Zimmerman, and Sussan Ley.
The lawyers argued the party's rank and file had the right to choose the candidates to represent them at the next election.
But the Prime Minister‘s lawyers argued the party’s emergency powers were broad and the preselections were legitimate.
A three-judge panel in the NSW Court of Appeal found on Tuesday they did not have the authority to rule on internal party politics, but even if they did, Mr Morrison’s selections were “still valid in any event”.
Mr Camenzuli refused to give up and appealed to the High Court. The matter is listed for 4pm.
“We'll see what happens in the High Court,” Mr Perrottet said.
“But ultimately the election is happening imminently, will be called imminently, and the Prime Minister needs candidates in the field, and I wish him all the best.”
