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| Brian Loughnane confirms resignation as federal director of Liberal party | Brian Loughnane confirms resignation as federal director of Liberal party |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Brian Loughnane has confirmed he is standing down as federal director of the Liberal party, following the ousting of former prime minister Tony Abbott. | Brian Loughnane has confirmed he is standing down as federal director of the Liberal party, following the ousting of former prime minister Tony Abbott. |
| Loughnane is a staunch ally of Abbott, and his wife, Peta Credlin, is Abbott’s former chief of staff. | Loughnane is a staunch ally of Abbott, and his wife, Peta Credlin, is Abbott’s former chief of staff. |
| Loughnane’s expected successor is party stalwart Tony Nutt, who helped Abbott’s successor, Malcolm Turnbull, transit into the prime ministership. | Loughnane’s expected successor is party stalwart Tony Nutt, who helped Abbott’s successor, Malcolm Turnbull, transit into the prime ministership. |
| “With the recent changes in the parliamentary leadership and the consequent need to review our planning for the next campaign, I believe now is an appropriate time for the party to appoint a new federal director to lead the organisation into the next campaign,” Loughnane said in a statement. | “With the recent changes in the parliamentary leadership and the consequent need to review our planning for the next campaign, I believe now is an appropriate time for the party to appoint a new federal director to lead the organisation into the next campaign,” Loughnane said in a statement. |
| Party colleagues and parliamentary friends lined up to pay tribute to the outgoing director. | Party colleagues and parliamentary friends lined up to pay tribute to the outgoing director. |
| “Brian Loughnane has been an outstanding federal director. His twelve years in that key role cap more than three decades of hard work, strong commitment and exceptional service to the Liberal party,” Turnbull said. “Lucy and I wish Brian and his wife Peta Credlin every success in their future endeavours.” | “Brian Loughnane has been an outstanding federal director. His twelve years in that key role cap more than three decades of hard work, strong commitment and exceptional service to the Liberal party,” Turnbull said. “Lucy and I wish Brian and his wife Peta Credlin every success in their future endeavours.” |
| “Brian has been a pleasure to work with,” the federal president of the Liberal party, Richard Alston, said in a statement. “Brian told me many months ago that he was keen to move on when the time was right. The change in parliamentary leadership provides the perfect opportunity for renewal.” | “Brian has been a pleasure to work with,” the federal president of the Liberal party, Richard Alston, said in a statement. “Brian told me many months ago that he was keen to move on when the time was right. The change in parliamentary leadership provides the perfect opportunity for renewal.” |
| The ministers for cities, Jamie Briggs, expressed his gratitude on Twitter. | The ministers for cities, Jamie Briggs, expressed his gratitude on Twitter. |
| Congratulations @LoughnaneB on your outstanding service to the @LiberalAus but more importantly to Australia, you should be very proud | Congratulations @LoughnaneB on your outstanding service to the @LiberalAus but more importantly to Australia, you should be very proud |
| Loughnane, who described himself as a “strong coalitionist” was also praised by Scott Mitchell, the federal director of the National party. | |
| “I acknowledge, on behalf of the Nationals, the outstanding contribution Brian has made to conservative politics in Australia over more than two decades,” Mitchell said. “He is a true professional and we enjoyed an exceptional working relationship. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside him.” | |
| Loughnane had faced criticism from within the Liberal party for a perceived conflict of interest arising from his relationship with Credlin. | Loughnane had faced criticism from within the Liberal party for a perceived conflict of interest arising from his relationship with Credlin. |
| One of his critics, the party’s former federal treasurer Phil Higginson, has thrown his support behind Turnbull, saying the new prime minister understands the need to reform the way the party manages its finances better than Abbott did. | One of his critics, the party’s former federal treasurer Phil Higginson, has thrown his support behind Turnbull, saying the new prime minister understands the need to reform the way the party manages its finances better than Abbott did. |
| Higginson told ABC radio on Wednesday: “There needs to be better financial governance, there needs to be better organisational governance so that we can look our donors in the face, our voters in the face, the members of our party in the face ... I know the new prime minister understands this a whole lot better than the previous prime minister.” | Higginson told ABC radio on Wednesday: “There needs to be better financial governance, there needs to be better organisational governance so that we can look our donors in the face, our voters in the face, the members of our party in the face ... I know the new prime minister understands this a whole lot better than the previous prime minister.” |
| In February Higginson wrote a scathing assessment of the governance of the federal Liberal party and the influence of the relationship between the federal director, Brian Loughnane and his wife, Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin. | In February Higginson wrote a scathing assessment of the governance of the federal Liberal party and the influence of the relationship between the federal director, Brian Loughnane and his wife, Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin. |
| Related: Bidding farewell to Peta Credlin, the woman who broke all Canberra's rules | Katharine Murphy | Related: Bidding farewell to Peta Credlin, the woman who broke all Canberra's rules | Katharine Murphy |
| In leaked emails to the federal council, published just days after Abbott survived the first challenge to his prime ministership, Higginson said the nexus between the power couple was a “conflict of interest”. | In leaked emails to the federal council, published just days after Abbott survived the first challenge to his prime ministership, Higginson said the nexus between the power couple was a “conflict of interest”. |
| On Thursday, Higginson stood by his comments, saying the alleged misuse of party money by former Victorian state director, Damien Mantach, proved reform was needed. | On Thursday, Higginson stood by his comments, saying the alleged misuse of party money by former Victorian state director, Damien Mantach, proved reform was needed. |
| “It was a prophecy that has come true, and that of course is vindicated too by the $1.5m so alleged to have been embezzled by the Victorian state director,” Higginson told ABC Radio. | “It was a prophecy that has come true, and that of course is vindicated too by the $1.5m so alleged to have been embezzled by the Victorian state director,” Higginson told ABC Radio. |
| Turnbull’s office told Guardian Australia any reform of the party is a matter for the federal executive council. | Turnbull’s office told Guardian Australia any reform of the party is a matter for the federal executive council. |
| Loughnane, an Abbott ally, will reportedly step down following Turnbull’s ascension to prime minister. | Loughnane, an Abbott ally, will reportedly step down following Turnbull’s ascension to prime minister. |
| Higginson rejected the suggestion his February email damaged the party, saying he had a lot of positive feedback from party members. | Higginson rejected the suggestion his February email damaged the party, saying he had a lot of positive feedback from party members. |
| “I think it was a wake up call to most people,” he said. | “I think it was a wake up call to most people,” he said. |
| He also denied the emails had damaged his relationship with Abbott, who he described as a “good friend”. | He also denied the emails had damaged his relationship with Abbott, who he described as a “good friend”. |
| “He took a lot of bad advice from people that gave lots of bad advice,” he said. | “He took a lot of bad advice from people that gave lots of bad advice,” he said. |
| The federal party president, Richard Alston, told the ABC the federal executive had expressed confidence in Loughnane earlier this year. | The federal party president, Richard Alston, told the ABC the federal executive had expressed confidence in Loughnane earlier this year. |
| “The conflict of interest issue was raised late in the day after Mr Higginson had himself been criticised,” Alston said of the emails. | “The conflict of interest issue was raised late in the day after Mr Higginson had himself been criticised,” Alston said of the emails. |
| Guardian Australia has contacted Alston for comment. | Guardian Australia has contacted Alston for comment. |
| In the leaked emails, Higginson wrote the perception of conflict of interest arising from Credlin and Loughnane’s relationship was the Liberal party’s “most serious current dilemma”. | In the leaked emails, Higginson wrote the perception of conflict of interest arising from Credlin and Loughnane’s relationship was the Liberal party’s “most serious current dilemma”. |
| “How this party ever let a husband and wife team into those two key roles, where collegiate competitive tension is mandatory, is a complete mystery,” Higginson said. | “How this party ever let a husband and wife team into those two key roles, where collegiate competitive tension is mandatory, is a complete mystery,” Higginson said. |
| “Conflicts of interest only have to be perceived to be frowned upon and to be highly damaging. They don’t actually have to occur. The persons in our party’s history that allowed it to occur should hang their collective heads in shame.” | “Conflicts of interest only have to be perceived to be frowned upon and to be highly damaging. They don’t actually have to occur. The persons in our party’s history that allowed it to occur should hang their collective heads in shame.” |