Senior Ku-ring-gai Liberal suspended from party over Facebook posts

Controversial Liberal Ku-ring-gai councillor and former mayor Cedric Spencer has been suspended from the NSW Liberal Party for what it says are “continued, repeated and sustained negative commentary” about the state Member for Wahroonga, Alister Henskens.

What happened: A June 12 letter from Mark Neeham, the state director of the NSW Liberal Party, issued Spencer with a six-month suspension and alleged Facebook posts from Spencer, criticising Henskens, were likely to cause the party embarrassment. 

One or the other? Speaking to the Lorikeet, Spencer agreed he had been involved in a  prolonged feud with two-time NSW Liberal leadership hopeful Alister Henskens. 

“Between Alister and myself, they chose Alister,” Spencer said. “They [suspended] me.”

Henskens declined to comment.

Social media commentary: In the Facebook posts cited in the suspension letter, Spencer criticises Henskens for his attacks on Liberal Ku-ring-gai councillors.

“One might expect a senior Liberal Party MP to act as a mentor to local representatives,” one post reads.

“Instead, over a period of years, we have seen Liberal mayors and Liberal councillors publicly criticised through parliamentary privilege.” 

The bad blood between Spencer and Henskens dates back nearly five years and revolves around the governance of Ku-ring-gai Council. 

What now?

Spencer’s six-month suspension will mean the forfeiture of his five office-bearing positions in the party, including President of the South Warrawee Branch and Conference Executive for the Bradfield Federal Electorate Conference.

Speaking to the Lorikeet on Friday afternoon, Spencer — who now sits as an Independent councillor — said he was not planning to renew his Liberal Party membership and has “been sick of [the party] for years”.

A lawyer, Spencer is facing charges of “using a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend”. At a mention hearing in August 2025, his lawyer told the court Spencer would plead not guilty.