Mark Speakman says he had been left in the dark about a temporary federal executive takeover following the party's council nominations fiasco.
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00:00Mark Speakman asserted himself.
00:04A Labor minister yesterday told me that I was a resilient bastard.
00:08Before the 40-minute barrage began.
00:10Speakman had no idea.
00:12Hang on, you're all firing questions at me one at a time.
00:14He says the Federal Party's move yesterday to take over the State Division blindsided him.
00:20I was unaware that this proposal was going to be put to Federal Executive.
00:24The Executive announced Victorian Party elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston
00:29and former NSW frontbencher Rob Stokes would be appointed to run the State Party.
00:34But that was news to Mr Stokes who later told the ABC he was not in a position to do so.
00:40He indicated a happiness to serve.
00:42In private discussions I had about his name and other names that was conveyed.
00:46But what has happened is someone has jumped the gun and put his name forward.
00:50NSW put forward Mr Stokes' name.
00:53He wasn't available as it turns out and that's fine.
00:57They forgot to ask him so he's not available.
01:01I mean this is a farce.
01:03This was the first time Mr Speakman fronted the cameras since former Liberal MP Rory Amon
01:07was charged on Friday with child sex offences which Mr Amon denies.
01:12I did not know and I did not hear of any suggestion that he had engaged in any illegal conduct.
01:18The headaches are mounting for the Liberal Party as it fights to keep three seats at by-elections next month.
01:24We've just got to put that behind us and battle on because the stakes are so high for the people of NSW.
01:29I think I'll leave it there. The Clare mining is closed.
01:32The opposition leader facing the ultimate test of his resilience.