Former prime minister John Howard has issued a stark warning to fellow Liberals that the election is so close that any loss in a socalled ‘‘teal’’ seat will spell the end of the Morrison government.
Launching Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman’s campaign to retain the seat of North Sydney on Tuesday night, Howard doubled down on his description of the Climate 200-backed independents as ‘‘anti-Liberal groupies’’, including Kylea Tink, who is challenging Zimmerman.
‘‘If any one of these anti-Liberal groupies wins, we’re not going to form the next government. That’s the truth of the matter and that’s the reality,’’ Howard said.
‘‘If anybody is elected in a seat we now hold at the expense of a sitting Liberal … then that will play a major role in destroying the Liberal government.’’
Close to 300 of the party faithful gathered at Norths Cammeray for Zimmerman’s launch, including former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, who was billed as a guest of honour but did not speak.
