The Liberals' Candidate Quiz Is So Hard Almost No One Could Pass

Could you pass?

Have you ever had an affair? Visited a sex shop or a bar with strippers? Spoken out against the Liberal party? Been bankrupt? Or investigated by ICAC?

Matt King / Getty Images

These are just some of the 53 questions used to screen NSW Liberal candidates before they're given their party's official tick of approval to run in this election.

BuzzFeed News has obtained a leaked copy of the questionnaire, which is given to candidates by the NSW Liberal Nomination Review Committee (NRC).

Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

https://www.facebook.com/TrentZimmerman/photos/pb.1731652610401121.-2207520000.1462956564./1802138110019237/?type=3&theater

Headed by outgoing member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock, and North Sydney member, Trent Zimmermann, the committee's main job is to scrutinise every Liberal who puts their hand up for pre-selection to find any scandals that could be used to discredit or blackmail them.

Because this is a double dissolution election, that means that ALL MPs from the House of Representatives and the Senate will be forced to go through the process.

The questions are designed to get candidates to reveal anything that could be used to blackmail them – criminal record, drink driving, assault charges, AVOs, civil proceedings, sexual harassment, drug addiction, and more.

View the full document here.

In the section marked "personal", candidates are asked:

"Have you ever had any sexual encounters or relations, which if they became public, would adversely impact on your candidature?"

"Are there any issues in relation to your marriage (current or previous), family and /or personal relationships that if they were to become public may have an adverse impact on your candidature?"

Candidates also have to disclose any mental or physical health issues that might affect their ability to participate in the campaign, serve as an MP for a full term, or embarrass the party.

One question that could cause problems for Senator Arthur Sinodinos concerns the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Stefan Postles / Getty Images

It reads:

"Have you, as an individual, been investigated by ICAC or any other Commonwealth or State investigatory body (whether private or public)?"

Sinodinos has not only been investigated by ICAC, but in May he refused to front a Senate inquiry into the Free Enterprise Foundation, which was used to channel illegal political donations to the NSW Liberals.

Another question asks whether candidates have ever expressed critical opinions of a state or federal Liberal government, including in a letter to the editor, speech, email or social media post.

Twitter / Via Twitter: @senpaterson

This tweet from 2012 by Victorian Senator James Paterson came back to haunt him when he joined parliament as a Liberal senator this year.

A senior Liberal source told BuzzFeed News that although all NSW Liberal candidates standing at this election will go through the motions of answering these questions, it’s unlikely the NRC would seriously question any high profile party figures who are running for office.

On average, it takes about 15 minutes on the phone for preselection candidates to answer all 53 questions.

BuzzFeed News was told by a Liberal source that some people flat-out lie during questioning.

So, would you pass the test? Let's see how you stack up against some prominent Liberals.