The Canberra Times brings word of the increasing acrimony in the local Liberal Party as Sentator Humphries fights for his life and tries to rally the moderates after years of letting Zed’s conservatives take over the party.
Former Canberra Liberals president and Howard government staffer Gary Kent told Fairfax he had been threatened with expulsion from the party for speaking out about the process being undertaken for the February 23 preselection.
“There have been threats to expel me,’’ he said.
Mr Kent said he had written to party president – and former Seselja staffer – Tio Faulkner to express his concerns.
“If a decision is simply to maintain the status quo then a number of people in the division – branch members – will seek to take it further, using the constitutional mechanisms of the constitution,’’ he said.
Some party members are believed to be considering using a petition to trigger a meeting of the Canberra Liberals’ full Divisional Council, which consists of all members, and would have the power to overturn decisions of the management committee.
A meeting of the full Divisional Council could not be held before the preselection ballot but might be able to overturn the result.
Members could also attempt to remove Mr Faulkner from his position at a Divisional Council meeting.
There might not be much of a party left by the time they’re done with this. Simon Sheikh probably can’t believe his luck.
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