Canberra Liberals boot Kikkert from election ticket

The Canberra Liberals are looking for a new candidate in Ginninderra after the party disendorsed sitting MLA Elizabeth Kikkert last night at a meeting of its management committee.

A party statement said Mrs Kikkert was dumped over alleged breaches of the Electoral Act and allegations of bullying of party staff.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but reflects the seriousness with which the Liberal Party takes compliance with obligations of candidates and MLAs under the Electoral Act 1992, including but not limited to disclosure of donations and electoral expenditure,” the statement said.

“In taking the decision, the Liberal Party also took into account conduct which had exposed the party to potential workplace claims as a result of Mrs Kikkert’s behaviour towards employees.

“The Canberra Liberals take compliance with the Electoral Act 1992 very seriously and has no tolerance for behaviour which would not be acceptable in any workplace.”

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said it was a very difficult decision and not one taken lightly.

“But the party is very strict in making sure that all candidates and all MLAs strictly adhered to the requirements under the Electoral Act and that they are held to a standard of behaviour, and if anyone breaches that we would need to take strong action.”

Ms Lee rejected suggestions Mrs Kikkert had not been afforded due process, saying the party had robust internal processes.

She said the Electoral Commissioner had also been made aware of the alleged breaches around donations and spending caps.

Ms Lee said the allegations of Mrs Kikkert’s treatment of party staff were serious and the alleged behaviour was unacceptable.

“These issues are taken seriously because the party, as well as operating and running election campaigns, employs employees within the divisional office and they have the right to the workplace protections that exist for all employees,” she said.

“The party’s management committee ultimately takes responsibility for protecting employees, takes their duties seriously and has taken action in accordance with the serious issues that have been raised.”

Ms Lee said she had not spoken yet to Mrs Kikkert, although the party president had attempted to reach her.

She said it was disappointing to lose a candidate so close to an election, especially one who had been a two-term MLA, but it was very important that the management committee acted in the face of serious allegations and and when there were serious obligations expected of all candidates.

No decision has been made yet on who will replace Mrs Kikkert in Ginninderra.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr bought into the situation, claiming it was a sign of serious division with in the Canberra Liberals.

“I think the community needs to know the exact nature the allegations that has led to the Liberal Party sacking an incumbent MLA,” he said.

Mr Barr also claimed that some sitting MLAs such as James Milligan in Yerrabi had been forced to the bottom of party tickets but the decision had been reversed after complaints.

But Ms Lee rejected this.

“If Mr Barr believes that he knows more about what my team members are raising as concerns, then he really is not focusing on his job,” she said.

Mrs Kikkert was demoted last December in the parliamentary shake-up in which Jeremy Hanson lost the deputy leadership.

She had previously held the shadow families, youth and community services, prevention of domestic and family violence, corrections and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander portfolios.