On the night the Liberals suffered a spectacular loss in a byelection in Wagga Wagga, Gladys Berejiklian personally briefed journalists that her federal colleagues were to blame.

Just a fortnight earlier, the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had been politically assassinated by his own people, sparking an internal civil war still being fought in the party.

There was widespread anger at the Liberal Party and there is little doubt the federal leadership spill played a significant role in the NSW Liberals losing Wagga after 60 years.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:James Alcock

But the brawling federal Liberals could not take all the blame. The byelection only came about because the sitting Liberal MP had to resign after being embroiled in a corruption inquiry.