NSW Liberals told federal intervention is required to prevent constitution breach

However, amid a fractious standoff over preselections in NSW, the prospect of federal intervention was met with fierce resistance, with some members of the state executive threatening a supreme court challenge.

The latest twist in the long-running feud over preselections, which affects a number of key federal seats including Warringah, Hughes and Dobell, comes as factional chiefs had been negotiating for a ballot that would allow plebiscites to take place in certain seats, while protecting incumbents.

Earlier this month speaking on Sydney radio station 2GB, Morrison raised the prospect of federal intervention unless the executive dealt with preselections in a number of key seats.

In a statement, the NSW Liberal party president, Philip Ruddock, said the proposal was merely aimed at addressing the functioning of the executive.

While members of the right faction have been pushing for local plebiscites to install candidates in a number of key seats, the preselections have been delayed by Hawke because of concerns a number of sitting MPs could lose their preselection in a ballot of local members.

Those current MPs including Hawke, fellow minister Sussan Ley in Farrer, and key moderate Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney.

Members of the state executive are expected to hold a vote on Thursday to resolve the matter.

To avoid that, the Guardian can reveal the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, has struck a deal to ensure supply with three key cross-benchers.