Four years after leaving the New South Wales Parliament, former Liberal minister David Elliott has spoken about the circumstances surrounding his departure. Elliott, who served as a senior minister under three different premiers—Mike Baird, Gladys Berejiklian, and Dominic Perrottet—announced he would not seek preselection after his seat was abolished during a redistribution process.

Elliott’s exit was marked by significant internal friction. He has suggested that his path to securing a new seat was effectively blocked by "branch stacking" within his local area, a practice where party members recruit individuals to join a specific branch to influence preselection outcomes. This internal maneuvering rendered his chances of continuing his parliamentary career negligible, despite his long tenure in government.

While Elliott was known for a high-profile and occasionally controversial public persona during his time in office, his departure underscores the broader, often volatile nature of factional politics within the NSW Liberal Party. The narrative surrounding his exit involves claims of calculated political setups and the impact of rumors that circulated during his final years in the legislature. The situation serves as a case study in how internal party dynamics can abruptly end the careers of even high-ranking government officials, leaving them to reflect on the nature of political loyalty and retribution long after they have left the chamber.