Call to get behind Liberals' lead Senate candidate after vote

The Canberra Liberals will persist with their lead Senate candidate after a party vote on Saturday afternoon saw a motion to replace him defeated.

Dissatisfaction with Jacob Vadakkedathu over alleged branch stacking and poor campaign performance came to a head after a petition from party members gathered the necessary 30 signatures to force a divisional council vote.

According to an email from party president Nick Tyrrell to members after the meeting, a motion to select a new lead Senate candidate was moved, seconded and stridently debated but not carried.

However, according to party sources, the meeting had a low turnout, with only 183 members attending and 18 determining the result.

Mr Tyrrell, who vacated the chair due to media speculation that he might be a replacement candidate, expressed relief in the email at the result and called on the party to get behind Mr Vadakkedathu.

“I am proud we were able to give effect to our Constitutional requirements and give our members the voice they are entitled to,” he said.

“I appreciate those who contributed respectfully to the debate and made their voices heard.

“With this difficult meeting behind us, we must all consider what we can do to better assist Jacob’s campaign, with the intention of winning as many votes as possible to our column, and putting pressure on [Senators] Gallagher and Pocock.”

In the email, Mr Tyrrell said this had been a difficult period for the party but urged members to focus on the priorities discussed at the meeting – winning votes, winning seats, and working together to build the party.

“Our job now is to get behind Jacob, help him achieve the commitments he has made, and strive for a victory at the next election,” he said.

“Our country needs a Peter Dutton victory, and we need to do all we can to help achieve that.”

It is believed Mr Tyrrell would have reluctantly stepped up if the vote had gone the other way and no one else had put their hand up, to avoid an “empty chair”.

Mr Tyrrell would not comment on internal party matters when contacted by Region.

Party sources say the result was not a great vote of confidence in Mr Vadakkedathu. The main arguments for staying with him were that it was too late to find someone else, it wasn’t fair to dump him now, and it would be too disruptive for the party.

“If as much effort went into campaigning for community votes as went into winning this internal vote, we might have had a shot at winning something in the real world,” said one who was in the room.

There remain suggestions that other figures are manoeuvring to make a run at the following election, and it was in their interests to keep Mr Vadakkedathu.

Mr Vadakkedathu addressed the meeting, reassuring members of his commitment to the campaign.

He would not comment on the outcome to Region.

It appears most members shied away from being involved in any internal conflict.

Unless there is federal intervention, this seems to be the end of the matter.

Allegations against Mr Vadakkedathu included the branch stacking, that he auctioned an autographed cricket bat without permission, failed to meet fundraising commitments, and has generally been lacklustre in the field with little visibility.

Mr Vadakkedathu denied the allegations.

Last month he faced three party figures, including Mr Tyrrell, about the unhappiness with his candidacy but refused to step aside.

A federal election is due to be held by May.