“I’ve been a journalist … most importantly, I am a mum, and I’m a wife, and my husband, Adam, and I are raising three teenage boys, and they are my purpose.”
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However, Sloane avoided addressing policy issues that could plague her leadership, including navigating net zero targets with the Nationals, workers’ compensation reforms and privatisation.
Sloane said there was strong support within the Liberals to maintain the party policy of net zero emissions by 2025, despite the junior Coalition partner indicating it could be prepared to walk away from the commitment, in line with their federal colleagues.
“We need to understand that families in NSW are doing it tough, particularly regional communities who under this bungled rollout by Labor are divided,” Sloane said.
“There’s the haves and the have-nots. It doesn’t seem fair. Energy prices have gone up by about 40 per cent – we need to address those concerns for NSW families.”
Sloane said she supported reopening the railway station at Woollahra in her electorate and was “pro-housing” but not at the expense of “sloppy planning”.
“I think people are willing to accept housing anywhere provided that it’s done well, and my concern is that Labor is drawing circles on maps, and they’re building blocks,” she said.
“We need to build homes, and we need to build communities.”
Sloane said that representing the affluent seat of Vaucluse and images of her eating caviar on a super yacht, which were taken 10 years ago but resurfaced recently, would not detract from winning over voters in western Sydney.
“I grew up in the country, went to a public school. I’ve worked in western Sydney. I’ve lived in many parts of Sydney, actually, and I’m very fortunate that the jobs I’ve had have connected me with communities everywhere.”
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Sloane will also have to make significant decisions about her frontbench but said that she had not yet turned her mind to its make-up.
Speakman, however, would be assured a spot on the frontbench if he wanted one, and Sloane left the door ajar for senior MP Alister Henskens, who decided against running for the leadership.
Senior Liberal MPs said Sloane commanded an authority that would enable her to shake up the party’s frontbench and policy platform.
Minns welcomed the challenge of a new opposition leader, insisting that he was “up for it”.
Asked if Sloane would be a more challenging opponent than Speakman, the premier said: “It’ll be a challenge for us.”
“We’ve got a really united, energetic, enthusiastic team that’s proud of our achievements, but really focused on the challenges ahead,” he said.
“Kellie Sloane is a really lovely person, and I wish her the very best for the job. Obviously, I’m in competition with her, but it’s a real honour to lead a political party. So hats off to her, it’s an achievement for her.”
with Mostafa Rachwani
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