Push for radical change to LNP leadership contests withdrawn at 11th hour
A bid to radically change the process for electing Queensland leaders was withdrawn at the last minute on the first day of the LNP’s annual state conference, hours before Brisbane’s mayor called on colleagues to boost the party’s appeal or risk losing older generations of voters.
The LNP Constitutional Convention, which takes place every five years, is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center this weekend with members discussing proposed changes to the rules on how the party operates.
Under the initial proposal, quoted by more than 300 people in a thick report presented to members, the LNP state parliamentary leader (prime minister once the party comes to power) would be elected directly by rank-and-file members and every member would have the right to vote by post.
Currently the leader is elected solely by LNP members of parliament.
Elections would be held when the seat becomes vacant, the general election is lost, or a no-confidence motion receives two-thirds support at the party’s annual state convention.
The motion was introduced to Congress on Friday by Geoff Harrison and David Goodwin and would give significantly more power to members who hold less moderate views than their representatives in parliament.
Similar rules govern state and federal leadership contests in the Labor Party.
Media were prevented from watching the session to consider the motion, but multiple sources in the room confirmed the motion had been withdrawn.
The media were then allowed to watch a 30-minute speech by Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who made a move for the party to broaden its appeal in the face of One Nation’s growing popularity.
“The Liberal Party needs to understand Australia as it is, not as we want it to be,” he told the chamber.
“The Australia that John Howard led is no more. Australia has changed. And we have lost generations of supporters at the federal level. Gone are the eager young people. Gone are the middle-aged families. Gone are the women. Gone are the immigrants. Now even older generations are toying with voting for the orange party.”
“The future is in our hands, we must win these people back.”
Amid infighting over the direction of the party, the three-day convention was also expected to include a potential challenge to the expulsion of Graeme Haycroft and Heath Goddard.
The pair had been advocating sweeping changes to the constitution (including allowing members to elect the leader) through their group, the Liberal Reform Association, claiming they had the support of new federal president Tony Abbott.
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