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Local backlash after Liberal party installs Warren Mundine as Gilmore candidate Morrison blames ‘bullying’ in Gilmore for decision to install Warren Mundine
(about 5 hours later)
The former Liberal candidate for Gilmore turned independent Grant Schultz has accused the party of betraying its values of “honesty, democracy and integrity” by dumping him in favour of Warren Mundine. Scott Morrison has blamed Grant Schultz for a decision to overturn his preselection in the marginal seat of Gilmore, accusing the Liberal-turned-independent of undermining the sitting member.
Schultz and state MP Shelley Hancock have suggested that local Liberals are already turning their backs on the party over the move. The decision by the New South Wales Liberal executive sparked outrage from Schultz, who said the party had betrayed its values of “honesty, democracy and integrity” by dumping him in favour of Indigenous leader Warren Mundine.
But Scott Morrison has defended the choice, saying he is “very pleased” that Mundine has joined the Liberal team, arguing he has “strong values on the importance of family and working hard”. Schultz and state MP Shelley Hancock have suggested that local Liberals are already turning their backs on the party over the move, but Morrison hit back by blaming Schultz for blocking a fresh preselection when sitting member Ann Sudmalis announced her retirement.
The choice of Mundine is particularly controversial because of his former association with Labor, of which he was the national president in 2006. Mundine only gained Liberal party membership on Tuesday and his candidacy required the party to waive rules for a candidate to be a member for at least six months. Morrison painted Mundine’s recruitment as “an opportunity for Liberal supporters to get behind a first-class candidate”, even claiming it would act “as a circuit breaker from those events of last year” when Schultz refused to call off a challenge against Sudmalis.
The choice of Mundine is particularly controversial because of his former association with Labor, of which he was the national president in 2006, and the fact he does not yet live in the electorate.
Mundine only gained Liberal party membership on Tuesday and his candidacy required the party to waive rules for a candidate to be a member for at least six months.
At a press conference in Nowra, Morrison said the south coast was the “ancestral home for [Mundine’s] people” and Mundine explained his grandparents and earlier generations were born in Moruya, Kiama, and the Shoalhaven River.
Mundine said he had even “decided on a house” already in the local area and would look to buy in the electorate in the next two days.
Asked how he could be taken seriously as a Liberal after predicting Bill Shorten would be the prime minister in 2009, Mundine replied the Liberal party “is the home for me because it is about creating jobs”.
Mundine said that people earning less than $80,000 – including his own children – “use negative gearing as their nest egg when they retire” which is “now under threat” due to Labor’s policies.
Mundine confirmed that he wants to see the date of Australia Day moved from 26 January, a position that puts him at odds with Morrison who has vowed to protect the national holiday on the date commemorating European settlement.
Mundine said there were “100 different things” that were more important than the date, citing a spate of Indigenous suicides in recent days.
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On Wednesday Schultz, who plans to contest the seat as an independent, said he was “disappointed not for myself but for the people of Gilmore” because Liberal members had been “let down and betrayed” over the decision to override the local preselection result. Gilmore is now set for a four-cornered contest between Schultz, running as an independent, Mundine, Labor and the National party.
On Wednesday, the Nationals leader Michael McCormack spruiked the credentials of former state MP and Nationals vice president Katrina Hodgkinson. Morrison welcomed the fact the junior Coalition partner will run.
Earlier, Schultz said he was “disappointed not for myself but for the people of Gilmore” because Liberal members had been “let down and betrayed” over the decision to override the local preselection result.
“I am already aware of a number of members that have cancelled their memberships,” he told ABC News Breakfast.“I am already aware of a number of members that have cancelled their memberships,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
Schultz said he had not asked members to quit in protest, but it was “a decision they should consider” if they thought they could better represent the community from outside the Liberal party.Schultz said he had not asked members to quit in protest, but it was “a decision they should consider” if they thought they could better represent the community from outside the Liberal party.
Morrison explained that when Sudmalis decided to retire, the party asked Schultz to stand aside and allow new nominations but he refused.
“Now, I’m not going to reward behaviour that sought to undermine a sitting member of parliament,” he said. Morrison clarified he was not suggesting Schultz was involved in alleged bullying of Sudmalis, but cited the fact he had challenged a sitting member.
“His decision to do what he’s done, yesterday, just says that the NSW Liberal party got it dead right.”
“You don’t get to bully your way into a seat in the Liberal party, that’s not how it works.”
Warren Mundine picked by Scott Morrison to stand in marginal seat of GilmoreWarren Mundine picked by Scott Morrison to stand in marginal seat of Gilmore
Schultz said that he didn’t think locals would take to the fact that Mundine, who lives in Sydney, will aim to represent the electorate. Schultz rejected the charge, arguing that he was “voted in by the branches in a democratic process in a secret ballot 40-9”.
“As Australians … they like giving someone a fair go [but] in this case I don’t think they will see it as giving someone a fair go.
“Whilst I wish Mr Mundine all the very best, I think he has got quite a battle on his hands.”
On Tuesday the NSW Liberal president, Philip Ruddock, took aim at Schultz, explaining the decision to block his endorsement was taken because he had nominated against the sitting member Ann Sudmalis, who is now retiring at the 2019 election.
But Schultz said he did not think the electors of Gilmore would agree. “Mr Ruddock perhaps should have listened to the branches. I was voted in by the branches in a democratic process in a secret ballot 40-9.”
Hancock, the state MP for the South Coast which is contained in the federal electorate of Gilmore, backed Schultz in comments to the South Coast Register questioning why Mundine had been parachuted in instead.Hancock, the state MP for the South Coast which is contained in the federal electorate of Gilmore, backed Schultz in comments to the South Coast Register questioning why Mundine had been parachuted in instead.
“I suspect there will be branch members who will turn their backs on the party,” she reportedly said.“I suspect there will be branch members who will turn their backs on the party,” she reportedly said.
“Only recently Scott Morrison was talking about the importance of grassroots processes when preselecting candidates.“Only recently Scott Morrison was talking about the importance of grassroots processes when preselecting candidates.
“I’m bitterly disappointed for Grant Schultz. He went through all the process and he won overwhelmingly.”“I’m bitterly disappointed for Grant Schultz. He went through all the process and he won overwhelmingly.”
On Tuesday Morrison backed Mundine, describing him as a “top bloke” who has “got a lot to offer – and he’s already been offering quite a bit”. Mundine promised to “work with those people who are thinking about leaving or who have left, and bring them back into the fold”.
In a further statement after the switch was completed, Morrison welcomed Mundine who he said “wants to be part of a government that will keep our economy strong and focus on the things that matter to everyday Australians”.
“Warren has demonstrated his leadership ability over many decades, including the role he has played in reforming our welfare system, and has a deep understanding of what matters to Australian families and the pressures they face,” he said.
“Warren has deep connections with the Gilmore community and will be a highly-effective champion for them and their families.
“He will play a very significant role within our team and the direction we take in the future.”
Australian politicsAustralian politics
New South WalesNew South Wales
Liberal partyLiberal party
Warren MundineWarren Mundine
CoalitionCoalition
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