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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/02/craig-kellys-challenger-in-hughes-urged-to-withdraw-as-liberals-crisis-grows
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| Craig Kelly’s challenger in Hughes urged to withdraw as Liberals’ crisis grows | Craig Kelly’s challenger in Hughes urged to withdraw as Liberals’ crisis grows |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The man seeking to replace conservative Liberal MP Craig Kelly is under intense pressure to withdraw from the race for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes, in what has become an existential fight for the conservative wing. | The man seeking to replace conservative Liberal MP Craig Kelly is under intense pressure to withdraw from the race for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes, in what has become an existential fight for the conservative wing. |
| Kent Johns, who is believed to have the numbers in the local branches, was urged by the staff of prime minister, Scott Morrison, to step out of the preselection fight or face being blasted out. | |
| There are now active discussions in the New South Wales state executive of the Liberal party about using emergency powers to save Kelly. A “fax ballot” of the state executive could be sent out this afternoon, overriding any local preselection, if the conservatives confirm they have the numbers. | |
| These powers were used last month to overrule a party vote and reinstate conservative Damien Tudehope in his state upper house seat. | |
| Julia Banks: right wing has 'drowned out' Liberal party's moderate voices | Julia Banks: right wing has 'drowned out' Liberal party's moderate voices |
| They allow the administrative wing to take over from the rank and file when the party’s best interests are at stake. Senior figures in the Liberal party are now arguing that because the federal election is now so close, the emergency powers can be used. | They allow the administrative wing to take over from the rank and file when the party’s best interests are at stake. Senior figures in the Liberal party are now arguing that because the federal election is now so close, the emergency powers can be used. |
| Senior factional figures said provided Alex Hawke’s soft right conservatives and the federal party representatives such as Nick Greiner vote with the hard right, they would reach the 50% required on state executive to save Kelly. | Senior factional figures said provided Alex Hawke’s soft right conservatives and the federal party representatives such as Nick Greiner vote with the hard right, they would reach the 50% required on state executive to save Kelly. |
| The NSW Liberals are also planning to use the emergency powers and a fax ballot to save sitting MP John Alexander in Bennelong, who is under preselection challenge from local councillor, Trenton Brown. | |
| Last week there were reports that Kelly was preparing to resign and sit on the crossbench, in preparation for a run as an independent in Hughes if he lost preselection – something he later denied. But the prospect added to the management problems facing the Morrison government. | Last week there were reports that Kelly was preparing to resign and sit on the crossbench, in preparation for a run as an independent in Hughes if he lost preselection – something he later denied. But the prospect added to the management problems facing the Morrison government. |
| Kelly’s defection would plunge the Morrison government even deeper into minority government after the Victorian Liberal MP Julia Banks made a similar move last week, in protest at the party’s attitude to women. | Kelly’s defection would plunge the Morrison government even deeper into minority government after the Victorian Liberal MP Julia Banks made a similar move last week, in protest at the party’s attitude to women. |
| It would make the Morrison government’s task of governing until the next federal election – likely in May – even more parlous. | It would make the Morrison government’s task of governing until the next federal election – likely in May – even more parlous. |
| But the intervention of the state executive will be deeply controversial in Hughes, where local preselectors are strongly backing Johns, a former mayor and vice president of the state party. He is said to enjoy close to 90% support in the branches. | But the intervention of the state executive will be deeply controversial in Hughes, where local preselectors are strongly backing Johns, a former mayor and vice president of the state party. He is said to enjoy close to 90% support in the branches. |
| Johns has also parked his political ambitions twice before – once for the state seat of Miranda and for Hughes in 2016 – at the request of senior Liberals. In 2016, then former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull personally urged him to withdraw from preselection on the understanding it would be his turn in 2019. | Johns has also parked his political ambitions twice before – once for the state seat of Miranda and for Hughes in 2016 – at the request of senior Liberals. In 2016, then former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull personally urged him to withdraw from preselection on the understanding it would be his turn in 2019. |
| A senior local party member said this was not about factional politics. “Craig is just not around enough in the electorate,” they said. “We want someone who can represent us, not go on television.” Kelly is a regular on Sky News and has been running a speaking campaign within the party ridiculing climate change. | A senior local party member said this was not about factional politics. “Craig is just not around enough in the electorate,” they said. “We want someone who can represent us, not go on television.” Kelly is a regular on Sky News and has been running a speaking campaign within the party ridiculing climate change. |
| Kelly acknowledged to Guardian Australia he was facing a “contest” to hold his local seat, but added: “I am happy to run on my record.” | Kelly acknowledged to Guardian Australia he was facing a “contest” to hold his local seat, but added: “I am happy to run on my record.” |
| Scott Morrison is fighting the 2007 election again. It can only backfire | Greg Jericho | Scott Morrison is fighting the 2007 election again. It can only backfire | Greg Jericho |
| Ironically it was the conservative wing of the party that lobbied for new rules giving local preselectors a bigger voice in candidate preselections, but are now facing the loss of several high-profile MPs. | Ironically it was the conservative wing of the party that lobbied for new rules giving local preselectors a bigger voice in candidate preselections, but are now facing the loss of several high-profile MPs. |
| Last weekend the NSW party voted to put conservative senator Jim Molan in the unwinnable spot on the Liberals’ Senate ticket. | Last weekend the NSW party voted to put conservative senator Jim Molan in the unwinnable spot on the Liberals’ Senate ticket. |
| A deeply angry Molan, a former army major general, said he had “no comment at all” on his future. During the week he told 2GB he was “designed for the Senate” and “all options are still open to me”. He said he would not defect to another party or run as an independent. | A deeply angry Molan, a former army major general, said he had “no comment at all” on his future. During the week he told 2GB he was “designed for the Senate” and “all options are still open to me”. He said he would not defect to another party or run as an independent. |
| One option being floated is that Molan could fill senator Arthur Sinodinos’s seat if he retired from politics. Sinodinos has been on leave while being treated for cancer, but has given no indication he intends to resign, and the expectation is he will return to parliament. | One option being floated is that Molan could fill senator Arthur Sinodinos’s seat if he retired from politics. Sinodinos has been on leave while being treated for cancer, but has given no indication he intends to resign, and the expectation is he will return to parliament. |
| Even if a vacancy arose, Molan would almost certainly face another preselection contest. | Even if a vacancy arose, Molan would almost certainly face another preselection contest. |
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