Leaked internal NSW Liberal Party messages have given weight to rumours that Opposition leader Mark Speakman could be ‘rolled’ out of the top job.
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.
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.
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.
‘When are the Opposition going to get rid of Mark Speakman?’ Mundine asked the chat.
‘According to… Outsiders, soon!’ someone wrote.
‘Good,’ Mundine bluntly replied.
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.
Mark Speakman (pictured) said those attempting to destablise his leadership were ‘cowards’
Mundine said it would be ‘good’ if Mark Speakman was removed as NSW Opposition Leader
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.
The legislation, which passed a day earlier on Thursday, hands the Environment Minister greater powers to oversee renewable energy projects.
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.
She accused the transition process, and her parliamentary colleagues, of ignoring the concerns of regional communities.
Henskens, her rumoured pick to replace Speakman, is a member of the party’s conservative faction like Mundine.
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.
Sitting MPs include Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts, Willoughby MP Tim James, Drummoyne MP Steph Di Pasqua and Upper House MLC Rachel Merton.
Despite the public and private frustration, no one has indicated that they would be willing to challenge Speakman for leadership.
Warren Mundine asked the chat when the Opposition would remove Mark Speakman as leader
NSW Liberal front bencher Wendy Tuckerman (pictured) quit the shadow cabinet on Friday
On Saturday, Speakman slammed the ‘anonymous cowards’ who were destabilising his leadership.
‘To the people of NSW – 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.
‘NSW is under a Minns minority Labor government that keeps re-announcing the same things while the state’s problems keep getting worse.’
The party is now gearing up for a by-election, caused by the resignation of Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
Ward, 44, was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, between 2013 and 2015.
He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.
Labor has confirmed it will field a candidate for the seat, though the election hasn’t yet been called.
Daily Mail has contacted Mundine for comment.
