NSW Liberal elder Damien Tudehope faces preselection challenge as factional tensions simmer

Taylor Martin also appeals expulsion; Scott Farlow shifts regions to secure winnable upper house spot

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

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Damien Tudehope, a former Perrottet-era minister and current shadow minister, faces a looming preselection challenge from Hunter-based right-winger Blake Keating for a winnable spot on the NSW Liberal upper house ticket ahead of the March election. Meanwhile, expelled former Liberal MP Taylor Martin has lodged an appeal against his expulsion, sparking speculation of a last-minute re-election bid.

The internal battle within the NSW Liberal Party's conservative faction is intensifying, with multiple MPs scrambling for upper house positions. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, party elder Damien Tudehope is expected to face a preselection challenge from Blake Keating, a Hunter local who won 40 per cent of the vote in a run for Liberal Party state president in March.

Tudehope was reinstated to Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane's shadow ministry earlier this month after standing aside during the Independent Commission Against Corruption's Operation Rosny inquiry. He told the ICAC he leaked a confidential parliamentary inquiry report to lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood before its public release, but was not a person of interest in the probe.

Both Tudehope and Keating belong to the Liberal right but to different sub-factions: Tudehope is linked to former premier Dominic Perrottet, while Keating is aligned with the mainstream conservative faction led by shadow police minister Anthony Roberts. The rivalry stems in part from Tudehope's role in unseating former Liberal MPs Lou Amato and Matthew Mason-Cox before the last election.

Based on current polling, the Liberals could elect as few as three upper house MPs in March. Deputy Liberal leader Natalie Ward, a moderate, has secured the top ticket spot. Shadow treasurer Scott Farlow, a centre-right member currently at large, plans to shift to the north-west metropolitan region to secure a winnable position, prompting Tudehope to seek the Hunter and Central Coast region.

Taylor Martin, the former Liberal MP who has sat on the crossbench as an independent since his expulsion in April 2024 following a complaint by former federal MP Lucy Wicks, has engaged high-profile lawyer Rebekah Giles to appeal his expulsion. Sources close to Martin downplayed suggestions of a re-election bid, noting the party's constitution requires a State Council vote unlikely before nominations close.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The preselection fight could reshape the NSW Liberal upper house ticket, potentially determining the party's effectiveness in opposition or government after March.
Internal factional tensions, particularly between right-wing sub-factions, risk further destabilising a party that has suffered poor polling and a federal landslide defeat.
The appeal by Taylor Martin, expelled over a complaint by Lucy Wicks, raises questions about party discipline and the handling of internal complaints.

Background

The NSW Liberal Party has been grappling with internal division since its heavy loss at the 2023 state election. The conservative faction is split between supporters of former premier Dominic Perrottet and a mainstream right group led by Anthony Roberts. The party's upper house ticket is determined by geographic regions and at-large spots, with a coalition agreement reserving two winnable spots for the Nationals. Damien Tudehope's involvement in the ICAC Operation Rosny inquiry, which examined links between Liberal figures and developer Jean Nassif, has added to the tensions.

Key Perspectives

Damien Tudehope: Seeks to retain a winnable upper house spot by shifting to the Hunter and Central Coast region, backed by figures including Lucy Wicks. His return to shadow cabinet signals he has the leadership's trust despite the ICAC leak. Blake Keating: A Hunter-based right-winger who is challenging Tudehope. He advocates for a stronger conservative stance, warning against moving toward the centre. Taylor Martin: The former Liberal MP is fighting to restore his party membership and possibly recontest his seat. His appeal highlights ongoing internal disputes over the party's expulsion process. Party factions: The moderate and right factions are jostling for position, with Scott Farlow's shift to the north-west designed to secure his spot amid a shrinking pool of winnable seats.

What to Watch

The outcome of Taylor Martin's appeal and whether it proceeds to a vote at State Council before nominations close.
The final composition of the upper house ticket, especially which right-aligned candidate secures the Hunter and Central Coast spot.
Polling trends: if the Coalition's numbers improve, it could change the predicted number of upper house seats available.

Sources

Liberal elder Damien Tudehope faces preselection challenge as MPs scramble for spots · The Age - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedDamien Tudehope faces a preselection challenge from Blake Keating amid simmering factional tensions.The Age - Latest News: “Simmering tensions within the conservative faction of the NSW Liberals could see party elder Damien Tudehope forced out of parliament at the March election, as the former Perrottet-era minister faces an increasingly likely preselection challenge from within the party’s right.”
Partly supportedKeating’s challenge is for a winnable upper-house spot ahead of the March election.The Age - Latest News: “Keating, who won 40 per cent of the vote when he ran for NSW Liberal Party state president in March, is lining up to contest an upper house spot which would see him pitted against Tudehope.”
SupportedTaylor Martin appealed his expulsion, prompting speculation of a last-minute re-election bid.The Age - Latest News: “Martin sparked speculation within the party that he may attempt a last-minute re-election bid after he lodged an appeal against his expulsion last week.”
SupportedScott Farlow is shifting regions to secure a winnable upper-house spot.The Age - Latest News: “The move to the north-west, which covers centre-right powerbroker Alex Hawke’s support base, is designed to ensure he secures a winnable spot on the ticket.”
SupportedKeating won 40 per cent of the vote in a March run for NSW Liberal Party state president.The Age - Latest News: “Keating, who won 40 per cent of the vote when he ran for NSW Liberal Party state president in March”
Partly supportedTudehope was reinstated to the shadow ministry earlier this month after standing aside during the ICAC inquiry.The Age - Latest News: “Tudehope was reinstated to Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane’s shadow ministry in a reshuffle earlier this month after he stood aside in the lead-up to the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s Operation Rosny inquiry”
SupportedTudehope told ICAC he leaked a confidential parliamentary inquiry report to lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood before its public release.The Age - Latest News: “Tudehope told the ICAC he leaked a confidential parliamentary inquiry report into the links between Liberal figures and fugitive developer Jean Nassif to lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, a key subject of the 2023 parliamentary probe, before it was released to the public.”
SupportedTudehope was not a person of interest in the ICAC inquiry.The Age - Latest News: “Tudehope was not a person of interest in the ICAC inquiry.”
Partly supportedTudehope is linked to Dominic Perrottet, while Keating is aligned with Anthony Roberts’ mainstream conservative faction.The Age - Latest News: “Tudehope is a key ally of former premier Dominic Perrottet, while Keating is linked to the “mainstream” conservative faction led by shadow police minister and veteran MP Anthony Roberts.”
Partly supportedSome within the Liberal right resent Tudehope because of his role in unseating Lou Amato and Matthew Mason-Cox before the last election.The Age - Latest News: “some within the right harbour long-standing resentment against Tudehope because of his role in unseating former Liberals Lou Amato and Matthew Mason-Cox before the last election”
SupportedBased on current polling, the Liberals could elect as few as three upper-house MPs in March, and Natalie Ward has secured the top ticket spot.The Age - Latest News: “Based on current polling, the Liberals could have as few as three MPs elected to the upper house in March. As Natalie Ward, the deputy Liberal leader and a senior moderate, has secured the top spot on the ticket”
SupportedPeople close to Martin said a State Council vote required for his return was unlikely before nominations closed.The Age - Latest News: “Those close to Martin, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail private conversations, hosed down suggestions he was seeking to run against Tudehope and Keating, noting the party’s constitution required a vote at State Council, which was unlikely to occur before nominations close in a few weeks.”