Political fail of the century as one of Australia’s biggest parties suffers unbelievable ‘massive stuff up’ – and one politician just can’t bear it anymore

The NSW Liberal Party is in chaos after the “worst act of mismanagement in the organisation’s history” left no fewer than 12 councils standing in the upcoming election.

Leader Mark Speakman has called on State Director Richard Shields to resign after the September 14 election missed the nomination deadline, affecting 140 Liberal Party candidates and leaving many sitting members without jobs.

Lane Cove Council Mayor Scott Bennison said he had “had enough” of the party and resigned live on radio on Thursday. The latest mistake was the final straw after he was dropped from his list days earlier in favour of a 22-year-old political worker.

“I’ve left the Liberal Party, I’m fed up with all this factional nonsense,” Mr Bennison, who has been a member since 2007, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

Mr Bennison said he had already sent the email resigning from the Liberals and was shocked that someone with his experience as a councillor and mayor was being passed over for the primary in favour of a younger party member.

The staffer is believed to work for Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts.

Mr Bennison said residents had told him they would support him as an independent mayor, so he ‘announced’ he was now officially an independent mayor.

“It is with a heavy heart… all the hours I have spent supporting state and federal elections and campaigning… but the community deserves better than a 22-year-old staffer.”

In an email to colleagues, Mr Speakman described the debacle the party found itself in as “the worst act of mismanagement I can remember in the history of the organisation”.

Mr Shields admitted the mistake, blaming limited resources and apologising to Liberal Party-backed candidates who were not nominated.

Officials confirmed the party missed Wednesday’s midday deadline to nominate candidates representing some of the largest council areas in NSW.

“We’ve had three years to fix this, and yet we’re screwing it up… It’s just unbelievable,” Bennison said.

State Liberal Party leader Mark Speakman is furious about the affair and has called for Richard Shields to resign.

In Sydney, the Northern Beaches, Lane Cove, Camden and Campbelltown councils are among those affected. Voters in the regional local government areas of Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Penrith and Blue Mountains may also be unable to elect candidates.

Liberal Party vice-leader Natalie Ward said she was “reachable” over what had been a “monumental blunder” in the run-up to the September 14 election.

“This is unacceptable for our members, it is unacceptable for the candidates and it is unacceptable for the voting public who support our party and want to vote for a Liberal member,” she told 2GB.

According to figures from election analyst Ben Raue, reported by the Daily Telegraph, around 40 sitting councillors could lose their jobs as a result of the blunder.

Mr Speakman has called on Mr Shields to resign.

“It’s definitely a setback and it’s frustrating,” he said

“The state director must fall on his sword, he is the CEO who leads the organization,” he said.