Jewish community welcomes Kellie Sloane appointment, pays tribute to Speakman
Kellie Sloane has been elected unopposed as the new leader of the NSW Liberal Party after Mark Speakman stepped down on Thursday.
The first-term Vaucluse MP previously served as CEO of Life Education Australia and as Shadow Minister for Health. She secured strong backing inside the party room and now faces the task of rebuilding the Opposition ahead of the 2027 election. Her election also creates the first all-female leadership team for the NSW Liberals, with Natalie Ward staying on as deputy.
At this year’s Kristallnacht commemoration: Julia Sussman, Michele Goldman, Kellie Sloane MP, Ian Sandler, David Ossip, Matt Cross MP
Her elevation was welcomed within the Jewish community, which she has represented closely as the member for Vaucluse. Community leaders note that Sloane attends local events, engages with schools and synagogues, and regularly consults with organisations during periods of concern.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said, “Kellie is a long-standing friend of our community,” and highlighted that she represents an electorate with one of the largest Jewish populations in the state. The Board said, “Few parliamentarians know the Jewish community better than Kellie,” and praised her as “a steadfast and vocal ally” during a difficult period marked by rising antisemitism. It added that she has “stood up for the Jewish community with strength and compassion” and offered her a “big Mazal Tov” on her appointment.
Sloane has also taken clear public positions on antisemitic incidents in NSW. After the neo-Nazi rally outside NSW Parliament on November 8, 2025, she said, “These men do not represent New South Wales or our values. The Jewish community should never have to live in fear. Our community stands with them, and we will not tolerate this hateful behaviour. We support stronger laws to ensure these groups are shut down and the community is protected.” Following her comments, both she and the federal member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, received death and rape threats, which were reported to police.
In her submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism, Sloane outlined the increase in incidents since October 7, 2023, including vandalism, hate speech and arson in parts of her electorate, which has a Jewish population of about 20 per cent.
Mark Speakman
The Jewish Board of Deputies also paid tribute to Speakman, calling him a figure of “integrity, principle and decency”. It noted his role in progressing the state’s hate crime framework, including reforms to incitement laws and the ban on public displays of Nazi symbols. Community leaders singled out his outreach during moments of heightened tension, including making contact while the events of October 7 were still unfolding, and thanked him for his “unwavering friendship and support”.
Wish her the best of Luck in this current situation in NSW and Vic
it seems that the centre right has lost its ability to govern, wrong people with out any ability to express what has to be said
we need leaders that have the ability to put up a fight what is right must be expressed, as our previous leaders did.