Michael Photios is one of the lobbyists who has been asked to resign. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

NSW Liberals ask powerbrokers to resign to curb influence of lobbyists

By state political reporter Sarah Gerathy

19 Aug 2016,

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

The New South Wales Liberal Party has asked a number of key powerbrokers to resign from its state council as it moves to reduce the influence of lobbyists.

The request, from Liberal Party state director Chris Stone, came after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched a scathing attack on lobbyists on the ABC's Four Corners program, branding them "factional warlords" who created "the potential for corruption."

Moderate faction powerbroker Michael Photios and Nick Campbell from the centre right faction, who jointly own lobbying firms Premier State and CapitalHill Advisory, were among those to receive letters from Mr Stone asking them to resign as delegates.

The owner of lobbying firm 1st State, Joseph Tannous, and the company's special counsel, former senator John Teirney, as well as the manager of Barton Deakin, Matt Hingerty, were also sent the same request.