State Liberal MPs Melanie Gibbons and Mark Coure are reportedly being challenged for preselection at the next election.
9 News said a toxic battle had erupted in Ms Gibbons’s seat of Holsworthy, which takes in the Sutherland Shire suburbs of Bangor, Barden Ridge, Lucas Heights and Sandy Point.
Ms Gibbons, the partner of NSW Liberal Party president and Sutherland Shire councillor Kent Johns, was said to be deeply shocked when Liverpool deputy mayor Tina Ayyad nominated for the seat.
Ms Ayyad is the wife of former Liverpool mayor and federal candidate for Werriwa Ned Mannoun.
The challenge was said to stem from a bitter local dispute, 9 News reporter Chris O’Keefe said.
The Liberal Party holds the seat by a margin of six per cent and it was thought Ms Gibbons may not have the party support to win a preselection.
Cr Johns was involved in a bitter preselection tussle before the last federal election with Craig Kelly, the sitting member for Hughes, which covers a similar area.
In the seat of Oatley, Mark Coure is being challenged by Georges River councillor Rita Kastanias.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley said it showed up the disunity within the party at a state level.
The Liberal Party said it would not comment on internal party issues.
