Tony Abbott campaigns in Gilmore to stem Liberal drift toward One Nation

Tony Abbott, serving as the federal Liberal president, travelled to the Gilmore electorate on the NSW South Coast to encourage members who feel “despondent” after recent defections to One Nation. Speaking at fundraisers in Nowra and Huskisson, he claimed his personal outreach has prevented further losses and may even bring new supporters back. Former Gilmore MP Jo Gash said the visit provided a needed morale boost and highlighted the party’s need to improve its image.

The seat, captured by Labor’s Fiona Phillips in 2019, became more challenging for the Liberals after their primary vote fell to 34.5% and the two-party preferred margin widened to 5.1% in the last federal election. Local Liberal officials note membership hovering around 300, while One one outlet claims over 500 members in the area, reflecting a shift among dissatisfied voters. Abbott urged conservatives to stay with the Coalition as the more viable path to government, and stressed the importance of finding a strong Liberal candidate for the next contest.