How safe is Pittwater for the Liberal
Party? A lot of locals seem to be sorta kinda blaming the party for what
happened to their John. The feeling towards the Libs is lukewarm at best. And
that poses preselection problems.

Paul Nicolau is in front to win the Liberal
nomination for the seat with support from the moderate right and moderate
factions, but there are fears he may come across as too much of a machine man.
That could lead to a protest vote – particularly if there’s a quality
independent.

Even if an independent doesn’t get up, the
last thing new NSW Liberal leader Peter Debnam wants is a poor result in blue
ribbon territory.