Kiama MP Gareth Ward has angrily denied any involvement in the preselection battle for the federal seat of Gilmore.
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This comes after media reports Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull personally phoned Mr Ward, who was allegedly spearheading the campaign against sitting member Ann Sudmalis.
ABC news had claimed Mr Ward may have been backing key rival Grant Schultz.
Mr Ward would not comment on whether or not Mr Turnbull contacted him, stating he did not speak out about “internal party matters”.
READ MORE: Branch support for Sudmalis collapses
However, he did respond to the persistent claims he was involved in the Gilmore preselection.
“I am disappointed with misleading reports that started with the ABC’s artlcle on Monday [last week] and have perpetuated misinformed, mischievous chatter,” Mr Ward said.
“I have not been involved in this preselection process – I don’t get a vote. I’m getting on with the job of working for my electorate and the region to deliver record infrastructure spends and better outcomes for the Illawarra and South Coast.”
The Mercury understands Mr Ward and Mr Schultz are from different political factions within the Liberal Party.
In recent weeks both Mr Turnbull and federal Treasurer Scott Morrison had visited Ms Sudmalis’ seat in an apparent effort to shore up support for the sitting member.
“Ann has demonstrated that she is the right candidate here, because she has won this seat in tough contests,” Mr Morrison said during his visit.
Since then there have been claims of Mr Turnbull and other senior Liberal figures hitting the phones to save Ms Sudmalis from losing a preselection fight.
The reason for the party’s concern is believed to stem from the fact another sitting female MP – Jane Prentice – lost preselection for the seat she held since 2010.
If Ms Sudmalis also lost, it would not be a good look for a party already critcised for having too few female MPs.