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Liberal preselections: Turnbull to join Abbott in move to give members a vote | Liberal preselections: Turnbull to join Abbott in move to give members a vote |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Malcolm Turnbull is expected to support a motion to the New South Wales Liberal state council from Tony Abbott’s own Warringah branches which could open up preselections to ordinary members for all federal and NSW candidates. | Malcolm Turnbull is expected to support a motion to the New South Wales Liberal state council from Tony Abbott’s own Warringah branches which could open up preselections to ordinary members for all federal and NSW candidates. |
If passed by the Liberal state council on 22 October, the motion from the Warringah federal electoral conference (FEC) would amend the NSW division’s constitution to allow each financial party member a vote for their local, state and federal Liberal candidates, senators and state upper house members. | If passed by the Liberal state council on 22 October, the motion from the Warringah federal electoral conference (FEC) would amend the NSW division’s constitution to allow each financial party member a vote for their local, state and federal Liberal candidates, senators and state upper house members. |
The current constitution has candidates chosen by a small group of party delegates. | The current constitution has candidates chosen by a small group of party delegates. |
Senior Liberal sources said the prime minister, who has long privately supported party plebiscites, was expected to support the motion. | Senior Liberal sources said the prime minister, who has long privately supported party plebiscites, was expected to support the motion. |
It is a bold move by Turnbull, given the reform campaign has been run by Abbott’s own FEC president, Walter Villatora, and championed by Abbott in recent months. The prime minister is also expected to attend the state council but it is not yet known whether he would speak to the motion. | It is a bold move by Turnbull, given the reform campaign has been run by Abbott’s own FEC president, Walter Villatora, and championed by Abbott in recent months. The prime minister is also expected to attend the state council but it is not yet known whether he would speak to the motion. |
The issue of plebscites have been an ongoing sore in the NSW division since John Howard recommended the reforms in his 2014 report. | The issue of plebscites have been an ongoing sore in the NSW division since John Howard recommended the reforms in his 2014 report. |
Plebiscites have been bitterly opposed by the controlling moderate faction of the NSW division, which makes up Turnbull’s own power base. | Plebiscites have been bitterly opposed by the controlling moderate faction of the NSW division, which makes up Turnbull’s own power base. |
Last month, Howard called on Turnbull and the NSW premier, Mike Baird, to change the membership rules, describing the state division as less representative of ordinary voters. | Last month, Howard called on Turnbull and the NSW premier, Mike Baird, to change the membership rules, describing the state division as less representative of ordinary voters. |
“There is a mounting view amongst Liberals and Liberal supporters in Sydney that, when it comes to preselections in safe Liberal seats, the Liberal party is near to a closed shop,” Howard said at the time. | |
“For a party that has rightly, in my view, campaigned hard against closed shops in the industrial relations arena, we should not allow it to continue.” | “For a party that has rightly, in my view, campaigned hard against closed shops in the industrial relations arena, we should not allow it to continue.” |
Howard had said unless both state and federal leaders supported the move, it would not happen. His comments followed federal Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor’s speech calling for the party to reform. | |
Over the weekend, Villatora organised a “democratic convention” to discuss the issue which attracted video messages from Turnbull and Baird and around 500 grassroots members. | Over the weekend, Villatora organised a “democratic convention” to discuss the issue which attracted video messages from Turnbull and Baird and around 500 grassroots members. |
Abbott spoke about the need to reform the party and said factional powerbrokers had too much control over the party. During his time as prime minister, Abbott changed the rules to remove paid lobbyists from the state executive. | Abbott spoke about the need to reform the party and said factional powerbrokers had too much control over the party. During his time as prime minister, Abbott changed the rules to remove paid lobbyists from the state executive. |
That change forced two very influential lobbyists, the former NSW minister turned lobbyist and powerbroker Michael Photios and Joe Tannous off the state executive. | That change forced two very influential lobbyists, the former NSW minister turned lobbyist and powerbroker Michael Photios and Joe Tannous off the state executive. |
After the convention on Sunday, cabinet secretary and Turnbull ally Arthur Sinodinos said he supported a statewide division vote on the reforms and urged the party to speed up the reform process. | After the convention on Sunday, cabinet secretary and Turnbull ally Arthur Sinodinos said he supported a statewide division vote on the reforms and urged the party to speed up the reform process. |
“I believe there should be a vote of the division as a whole, all of the membership of the division, as to what the changes will be because then I think they will stick,” Sinodinos said. | “I believe there should be a vote of the division as a whole, all of the membership of the division, as to what the changes will be because then I think they will stick,” Sinodinos said. |
“Doing it through state council is one thing but I think the membership as a whole [should vote] and I think we need to speed up the process of having plebiscites.” | “Doing it through state council is one thing but I think the membership as a whole [should vote] and I think we need to speed up the process of having plebiscites.” |
At the same time, there are plans within the Mackellar electorate conference in the seat held by Jason Falinski, to consider proposals for a motion which would extend democratic reform to the way state council delegates are chosen. It could also adopt a UK-style Conservative party reform for “candidate lists”, which provide training and support for those seeking preselection. | At the same time, there are plans within the Mackellar electorate conference in the seat held by Jason Falinski, to consider proposals for a motion which would extend democratic reform to the way state council delegates are chosen. It could also adopt a UK-style Conservative party reform for “candidate lists”, which provide training and support for those seeking preselection. |
The full Warringah motion reads: | The full Warringah motion reads: |
“The Warringah FEC calls upon the state council to resolve to amend the constitution to ensure that each financial member of the party, with voting rights as required, and eligibility in accordance with section 1 of appendix 7 of the constitution as required, should be entitled to vote in relation to the following: | “The Warringah FEC calls upon the state council to resolve to amend the constitution to ensure that each financial member of the party, with voting rights as required, and eligibility in accordance with section 1 of appendix 7 of the constitution as required, should be entitled to vote in relation to the following: |
1. The selection of Liberal party candidates for the House of Representatives, NSW Legislative Assembly and local government elections (as appropriate) in their respective electorates and local government areas; | 1. The selection of Liberal party candidates for the House of Representatives, NSW Legislative Assembly and local government elections (as appropriate) in their respective electorates and local government areas; |
2. The selection of Liberal party candidates for the Senate; | 2. The selection of Liberal party candidates for the Senate; |
3. The selection of candidates for their respective Legislative Council region; | 3. The selection of candidates for their respective Legislative Council region; |
4. The election of members of the state executive of the NSW division and all committees of state council; and | 4. The election of members of the state executive of the NSW division and all committees of state council; and |
5. The election of office-bearers in their respective FEC, SEC and LGC (as appropriate). | 5. The election of office-bearers in their respective FEC, SEC and LGC (as appropriate). |