Federal Liberal MPs threaten to pursue ‘draconian’ expulsion of conservative Christians in letter to party’s state president

A group of federal Liberal MPs have threatened to pursue the “draconian” expulsion of conservative Christian members, in a letter to their party’s state president.

A group of federal Liberal MPs have decried the “draconian” expulsion of conservative Christian members and threatened to “pursue this deeply concerning matter” unless the decision is overturned, in a letter to their party’s state president.

It came as a member of the Liberal state executive, who also chairs an influential branch of the party, spoke out against the move which he said “directly discriminated” against Christians.

In an emergency meeting last week, the state executive refused the memberships of 150 new applicants and put 400 more members on notice, requiring them to sign statutory declarations affirming their support for the Liberal Party, after a recruitment drive by conservatives through largely Christian communities.

South Australian MPs Tony Pasin, Nicolle Flint, Rowan Ramsey and Senator Alex Antic co-signed the letter to moderate-backed SA Liberal president Legh Davis on Tuesday.

It said the disgruntled group had “deep concern” about the “utterly unprecedented and draconian requirements” that new members sign a declaration stating that, among other things, they paid their own membership fees and were not aligned with “alternative political entities”.

“They also offend the founding principles of our party … that state that we are a party and a nation dedicated to the political liberty and the freedom of man and that our free and liberal Australian democracy shall be maintained by freedom of speech, religion and association,” the letter read.

“We seek an urgent explanation as to why this extraordinary action has been taken.”

Nicolle Flint. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Senator Alex Antic. Picture: AAP Image/Sean Davey

The letter called for the party’s state executive to reconvene “at the earliest possible time to overturn this highly irregular and undemocratic decision” otherwise the four MPs would “continue to pursue this deeply concerning matter further”.

However, in a statement, Mr Davis said the party has not suspended or expelled any members, nor has it moved to do so.

“The steps that have been agreed to are not focused on the faith of an individual or a specific church, but relate to the conduct of individuals which, if proven, may breach the party’s constitution,” he said.

“Any person who clearly supports the party’s constitutional objectives and endorsed candidates will be welcomed as a member.”

It followed Pasin, Flint and Antic raising concerns about the expulsions with acting-Prime Minister Josh Frydenberg in the Liberal party room on Tuesday.

Mr Davis last week said the party had been confronted with allegations new members were going to campaign against endorsed candidates at the next election.

Liberal state executive member and chairman of the party’s Rural and Regional Council, Lachlan Haynes, also sent an email to council members on Wednesday speaking out against the actions of his colleagues.

In the email, Mr Haynes said the move “sought to directly discriminate against Christians, a direct attack on their religion in violation of the stated aim of the party for religious freedom”.

“This motion goes against all the values I believed the party stands for and why I am a member,” Mr Haynes wrote.

He said he proposed that any alleged instances of new members misbehaving could be dealt with individually without all new members being “tarnished or punished”, but the state executive instead opted to cancel all memberships lodged in the past month and “audit” 400 more.

He wrote that he “could not in all conscience ever consider voting” for that proposal.

State Liberal MLC Nicola Centofanti also criticised her party’s state executive.

“Our members are the backbone of our democratic party and they volunteer their precious time in a variety of ways in order to see the Liberal party re-elected,” she said.

State Liberal MLC Nicola Centofanti criticised her party’s state executive. Picture: Facebook

“It is critical we have boots on the ground to take the fight up to Labor and I personally welcome all new members.”

Other conservatives, including Steve Murray, said they would not comment publicly, while Dan Cregan and Terry Stephens did not respond to repeated inquiries from The Advertiser.

An attempt to overturn the decision is expected to take place at a meeting of the party’s state council on Saturday.