Kellie Sloane welcomed as NSW Liberal leader

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has warmly congratulated Kellie Sloane MP on her election as leader of the NSW Liberal Party, describing her as “a steadfast and vocal ally” of the Jewish community.

Sloane was elected unopposed at a party room meeting on Friday morning, becoming the first woman to lead the NSW Liberals. Her elevation came less than three years after she was first elected, with the Vaucluse MP having met with ousted leader Mark Speakman on Thursday requesting he stand down.

Speakman resigned on Thursday afternoon after months of speculation about his leadership. Despite insisting earlier in the day he intended to stay on, he ultimately conceded the ongoing internal noise had made his position untenable.

The only other contender, Alister Henskens, bowed out of the race late on Thursday after conceding he did not have the numbers to force a contest.

“Kellie is a long-standing friend of our community, representing the electorate of Vaucluse, home to one of the largest Jewish populations in NSW,” the JBD said in a statement. “Few parliamentarians know the Jewish community better than Kellie. She has been a steadfast and vocal ally during the community’s most difficult period over the past two years, and has consistently stood up for the Jewish community with strength and compassion.”