Reverend Fred Nile to quit NSW politics, names Lyle Shelton as successor

The Electoral Commission warning occurred amid an internal dispute over the financial operation of the party between Mr Nile and other members, which landed in the Supreme Court late last year.

The party has been battling bitter internal divisions since a teenage member of the party tried to engineer a coup against Mr Nile in June 2019, amid accusations of mismanagement.

Lyle Shelton presents then-Senator Cory Bernardi with a petition during the same-sex marriage survey in 2017.Credit:Andrew Meares

Mr Nile, whose Legislative Council seat is set to expire in 2023, is the only CDP member in Parliament. The party lost its only other upper house seat at the last election.

In a statement announcing his retirement, Mr Nile said he planned to remain active in the party as the immediate past president, honorary chairman of the board and editor and chief of the party newspaper and email newsletter.