自由党资深议员宣布在新州选举前退出政治

新南威尔士州自由党影子能源部长詹姆斯·格里芬宣布将在即将举行的州选举前退休1。格里芬在任职近10年后做出这一决定，成为选举前首位退出的资深自由党议员1，这使自由党面临失去自2007年以来一直掌控的玛丽选区的风险1。格里芬在2017年补选中继任前总理迈克·贝尔德1。选举定于6个月后举行1。

玛丽选区在2023年的摇摆幅度接近8%，目前优势仅为4.8%1。最新民调显示自由党支持率为23%，落后工党的29%和一国党的25%1。自由党主席斯隆作为首选总理的民调支持率仅为16%，远低于现任总理明恩的36%1。

James Griffin, a senior frontbench member of New South Wales's Liberal Party and shadow energy minister, has announced his retirement from politics ahead of the upcoming state election 1. Griffin's departure marks the first senior Liberal MP to exit before the ballot, which is scheduled to take place within six months 1.

Griffin's decision to step down after nearly a decade in office leaves the Liberal Party vulnerable in the Marrickville electorate, which the party has controlled since 2007 1. The seat swung by nearly 8 percentage points in the 2023 election cycle and currently holds a margin of only 4.8 percent 1. Griffin took the seat in a 2017 by-election following the retirement of former Prime Minister Mike Baird 1.

The retirement comes as the Liberal Party faces mounting political headwinds. Recent polling indicates the party commands just 23 percent support, trailing both the Labor Party at 29 percent and One Nation at 25 percent 1. Liberal Party leader John Sloan's preferred prime minister rating stands at 16 percent, significantly behind incumbent Prime Minister Chris Minns at 36 percent 1.