NSW Liberal MP disendorsed for sharing explicit photos of colleague

“This afternoon, the state director, in consultation with the state president, exercised campaign powers to suspend Peter Poulos from the NSW Division for a period of six months,” a Liberal spokesperson said.

“The effect of the suspension is that Mr Poulos is disendorsed as a Liberal candidate for the Legislative Council at the coming election.

“While Mr Poulos has apologised for his actions to the person concerned and to the community, his conduct fell short of the standard of behaviour expected of members of our party.

“The Party will promptly fill the vacancy on the ticket in line with the requirements of our Constitution.”

Although Premier Dominic Perrottet had backed Poulos earlier this week, saying on Tuesday that “people make mistakes”, on Saturday he changed tack and called for the Liberal Party to take action against him.

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”They need to look at that matter,” Perrottet told reporters.

“It’s a matter for the party. I’ve made it very clear today, very clear, as I was back then. When those images, from many years ago by a choice that she made, were brought up to damage her, (it was) completely horrific, vulgar and wrong.”

Poulos’s disendorsement comes just a day after former Finance Minister Damien Tudehope was forced to resign from cabinet after admitting he held shares in tolling giant Transurban while in office.

The Liberals have not yet announced a replacement for Poulos on their upper house ticket for the state election, which will be held on March 25.