PRIME Minister Scott Morrison is watching on as his government’s re-election chances are crippled by a bitter NSW factional war he chooses to do nothing about.
The PM’s factional boss, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, is demanding automatic preselection for his seat of Mitchell without facing a membership vote, defying the Liberal Party’s constitution.
- By not reprimanding his right-hand man, PM Morrison appears to be onboard with Mr Hawke’s tactics.
- An attempt to dissolve State Executive is being challenged in the NSW Supreme Court.
- Mr Hawke ignored a legal summons to appear before the court.
In a stitch-up deal with the Left, Mr Hawke (leader of the soft-Right faction) has attempted to secure a trade-off by backing the automatic preselection of a number of Left-wing candidates.
These include Left faction kingpin Trent Zimmerman for North Sydney and former Young Liberal newcomer Alex Dore for Hughes.
STRUGGLE
It’s understood both Messrs Hawke and Zimmerman could struggle to maintain their positions if forced to a membership plebiscite.
Their anti-democratic deal has hit a roadblock, however, with the NSW State Executive repeatedly refusing to ratify it.
Requiring 90 per cent of the executive vote to by-pass the Party’s constitution, Mr Hawke doesn’t have the numbers and so has resorted to “political bastardry” to force its passage.
This includes allegedly refusing to attend Nomination Review Committee meetings for the past six months, where he’s required to attend as the PM’s representative.
As review committee meetings are unable to proceed without him, Mr Hawke has effectively delayed the preselection of candidates in winnable marginal seats including Warringah, Bennelong, Parramatta, Eden-Monaro and Dobell.
By not reprimanding his right-hand man, Mr Morrison appears to be onboard with Mr Hawke’s tactics.
By running down the clock, the Immigration Minister hopes to invite Federal Executive intervention – thereby giving himself and the Prime Minister authority to appoint candidates.
INTERVENTION
As State Executive members hold their ground, however, internal moves are in play to dissolve the State Executive and appoint an administrator.
The attempt to dissolve State Executive is being challenged in the NSW Supreme Court, led by State Executive member and Right faction organiser Matthew Camenzuli.
With proceedings commencing on Tuesday, Mr Hawke ignored a legal summons to appear before the court, according to Federal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
“Both the second defendant, Philip Ruddock representing the NSW State Executive, and the third defendant, John Olsen representing the Federal Executive, entered submitting appearances,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.
“A ‘submitting appearance’ has the effect of the defendant submitting to the jurisdiction of the court, without contradicting or opposing the plaintiff’s case, except as to costs.
“During the course of the proceedings, counsel for Mr Ruddock even quipped that his client hoped that Mr Camenzuli would win his case.
“This is not surprising, as it would mean that the State Executive office bearers continue in their offices until the AGM.
“The matter has been set down for hearing on Thursday before the Chief Judge in Equity, Justice Julie Ward.”
RESPECTED
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said resolution of the matter would mean the State Executive could then proceed without any more obstructions or impediments to ensure member’s democratic rights are respected.
“This will finally allow us to deal with plebiscites for lower house seats and the Senate. ”
The recent introduction of plebiscites in NSW has caused fear among factional operatives, who remain petrified of grass-roots members having a say in candidate selection.
The driving force behind the Liberal Party’s democratic reform movement, Walter Villatora – who spent a decade pushing for constitutional change – has come under relentless criticism from factional heads.
Without the plebiscite system, however, Party members would continue to be disenfranchised and their preferred candidates permanently sidelined.PC
So much for the idea of a ‘rules-based order’. It seems the Liberal Party in NSW has completely abandoned any pretence at operating within its own constitution. Quite why these factional appointees think they will get the rank and file to volunteer on their behalf is not clear. In fact, it reflects a delusional arrogance. If a candidate as good as Lincoln Parker is de-stabilised in Warringah, the next Federal government will be formed by the ALP-Green coalition.
Titanic and deck chairs come to mind. It’s been a long time since scomo walked around with a lump of coal having the same effect on the left as Holy water has on vampires. Embracing net zero is like lying on your back legs akimbo before the approaching left horde. I know scomo has LINOs like Kean in the LNP but presenting a more drawn out version of what the alp/greens are offering is no answer.
When rub and tug wins and bandt becomes the nagging wife of politics I look forward to imbeciles like popgun brookes having their way and switching off the lights.
Morrison has crippled not only the Liberal Party but the nation and has been MIA since he made his big comment A Fair go for those who have a go . Slogans are not actions and this man has no convictions but should be convicted for his part in the Great Reset Scam Demic . Right now neither party is worthy of leading this nation and someone needs to step up and challenge the Happy Clapper as we cannot afford to go to a default Government with Labour and The Greens Terrorist Party . Dutton, Hastie are the two best options for Liberal Party either now or (after they win in a bare margin) as the minor parties are going to hold sway over whomever wins.
It seems to me that Alex Hawke is representing self interest instead of grass-roots members. If we continue down this road conservatives,like me, will go elsewhere.
Having members choose their candidate by plebiscites to represent them sets us apart and the difference of the Liberal Party from the Labor Party unions and greens domination.
Morrison is such a sick PM. Sending munitions into a war zone is like vaccination during a pandemic. Fool.
We should be sending medical supplies, medicines, donated blood, long lasting food, tents, etc. BUT never troops or munitions to Ukrainia. We don’t want anyone’s blood on our hands. However, I guess after his mass poisoning vaccination campaign anything is possible?
Nuremberg 2.0
You didn’t mention that the Labor Opposition supports the assistance being provided, as do Australia’s allies.
Sounds like Labor preselection. At the moment, can anybody tell the différance between Labor and the coalition?
AH’s little Djokovic stunt didn’t help the government. To kick out one of the planet’s healthiest individuals who was covid negative was plain silly
You never stop with your misinformation attempts, Djokovic did not meet Immigration entry requirement regarding vaccination while being processed after he arrived at the Melbourne International Airport.
Just like actor Depp attempted to import his dogs and later made a fuss when they were denied entry at the Sydney International Airport, and just like Depp tennis player Djokovic and/or his legal advisers attempted to blame the elected government.
The first court decision was based on a procedural error made by Immigration and Border Force officers who were preparing to deport Djokovic, a technicality, and he was later deported after the Federal Government successfully appealed against that decision.
And now in March 2022 Djokovic is in trouble again not permitted to enter the United States of America unvaccinated.