Last Thursday before the 5pm deadline, the director of a family building company and father of two teenage children exercised his democratic rights. He nominated for Liberal Party preselection against Mr Hawke, 30, the sitting federal Member for the Hills-based seat of Mitchell.

Unaligned factionally, he did so against the advice of many conservative voices in The Hills who said he would be persecuted, yet again, for going against the ruling right-wing cliques which control the branches.

Mr O'Sullivan has told friends privately he is prepared for the abuse, the shunning and any other possible retribution from supporters of Mr Hawke and Hawke's former boss, the leader of the so-called Christian right, David Clarke, MLC.