{"id":57740,"date":"2025-08-10T13:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T13:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/57740\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T13:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T13:52:11","slug":"bombshell-leaked-liberal-group-chat-reveals-party-leaders-days-could-be-numbered-as-highly-influential-figure-joins-calls-to-boot-them-from-the-top-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/57740\/","title":{"rendered":"Bombshell leaked Liberal group chat reveals party leader’s days could be numbered – as highly influential figure joins calls to boot them from the top job"},"content":{"rendered":"

By NICHOLAS COMINO, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 05:11 EDT, 10 August 2025 | Updated: 05:17 EDT, 10 August 2025 <\/p>\n

Leaked internal NSW<\/a> Liberal Party messages have given weight to rumours that Opposition leader Mark Speakman could be ‘rolled’ out of the top job.<\/p>\n

Whispers of a leadership challenge began on the weekend after Wendy Tuckerman resigned from the Opposition frontbench over the party voting through a controversial renewable energy bill, saying regional communities weren’t consulted enough.<\/p>\n

Tuckerman is reportedly backing shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens for the job, with a leaked WhatsApp exchange obtained by Daily Mail showing that she isn’t the only one looking to cut Speakman loose.<\/p>\n

High-profile former Liberal candidate and anti-Indigenous Voice campaigner Warren Mundine made his position clear in the group text, which consists of 220 Liberal party members, including a number of current and former MPs.<\/p>\n

‘When are the Opposition going to get rid of Mark Speakman?’ Mundine asked the chat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘According to… Outsiders, soon!’ someone wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Good,’ Mundine bluntly replied.<\/p>\n

Mundine is an influential figure in the party having narrowly missing pre-selection for the federal seat of Bradfield earlier this year after being endorsed by ex-PM Tony Abbott, senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and ex-deputy PM John Anderson.<\/p>\n

\"Mark <\/p>\n

Mark Speakman (pictured) said those attempting to destablise his leadership were ‘cowards’\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mundine <\/p>\n

Mundine said it would be ‘good’ if Mark Speakman was removed as NSW Opposition Leader<\/p>\n

In NSW Parliament on Friday, Tuckerman quit as Shadow Minister for Local Government in protest over the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Amendment (Priority Network Projects) Bill 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The legislation, which passed a day earlier on Thursday, hands the Environment Minister greater powers to oversee renewable energy projects.<\/p>\n

During her resignation speech, Tuckerman expressed outrage at only learning of the draft bill earlier in the week, despite other MPs having been briefed earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She accused the transition process, and her parliamentary colleagues, of ignoring the concerns of regional communities.<\/p>\n

Henskens, her rumoured pick to replace Speakman, is a member of the party’s conservative faction like Mundine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mundine most recently attempted to be preselected for the Federal seat of Bradfield on Sydney’s North Shore, but lost out to tech executive Gisele Kapterian.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sitting MPs include Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts, Willoughby MP Tim James,\u00a0Drummoyne MP Steph Di Pasqua and Upper House MLC Rachel Merton.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the public and private frustration, no one has indicated that they would be willing to challenge Speakman for leadership.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Warren <\/p>\n

Warren Mundine asked the chat when the Opposition would remove Mark Speakman as leader<\/p>\n

\"NSW <\/p>\n

NSW Liberal front bencher Wendy Tuckerman (pictured) quit the shadow cabinet on Friday<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Speakman slammed the ‘anonymous cowards’ who were destabilising his leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘To the people of NSW \u2013 my focus is on you and your needs, not the rumour mill from a few anonymous cowards who should get out of the way,’ he said.<\/p>\n

‘NSW is under a Minns minority Labor government that keeps re-announcing the same things while the state’s problems keep getting worse.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

The party is now gearing up for a by-election, caused by the resignation of Kiama MP Gareth Ward.<\/p>\n

Ward, 44, was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, between 2013 and 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.<\/p>\n

Labor has confirmed it will field a candidate for the seat, though the election hasn’t yet been called.<\/p>\n

Daily Mail has contacted Mundine for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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