Fresh SA Liberal turmoil engulfs Women’s Council at Arkaba Hotel

Heated clashes have plunged the SA Liberal Party into fresh turmoil after claims of abusive and intimidatory conduct by “elder stateswomen” sparked more internal strife.

The South Australian Liberals have been plunged into fresh turmoil as the party looks to investigate claims of bad behaviour by some of its members at a leading women’s event.

More than 60 females, including politicians, supporters and senior party officials, attended the party’s Women’s Council meeting at the Arkaba Hotel late last month.

But the forum, which was organised to review the party’s disastrous state and federal election losses, descended into acrimony over differing views on abortion laws and Covid-19 mandates.

Amid a bitter factional war, party chiefs are set to investigate claims of verbally “abusive” and “intimidatory” conduct by a group of “elder stateswoman” members.

Liberal Party Upper House leader, Nicola Centofanti at the Women's Council meeting at the Arkaba Hotel. Picture: Facebook

Sources said more than 40 “appalled” members have objected to council leadership. A formal complaint has also been lodged with new state director Alex May.

Party rules dictate complaints must be investigated.

An inquiry would be the second of its type in the past month and comes as a Liberal task force investigates how to boost female participation in politics.

Witnesses told The Advertiser the event became heated amid shouting, abuse and interjections during almost two hours of debate on late-term abortion laws that passed state parliament last year.

“Truth is more unbelievable than fiction, but it was quite extraordinary to watch these experienced and intelligent women behave in this way,” one witness said.

“These were party stateswomen, who made quite the deal about their experience.”

Another added: “If a man had (behaved in this way) to a woman it would be front page news – just because you’re a woman, you can’t get away it.

“If we don’t accept it from one, we don’t accept it from anyone.”

The July 28 council meeting, attended by a cross section of professional women aged from their early 20s to their mid-80s, discussed the party’s poor election results.

Attendees included Upper House leader and task-force chairwoman Nicola Centofanti, fellow MLC Laura Curran and the election review’s co-author, Jordan Dodd.

South Australian Liberal Party women’s task force members from left: Carolyn Power, Leah Blyth, Nicola Centofanti, Penny Pratt, Jing Lee, Laura Curran, Chelsea Potter, Michelle Lensink and Trish Worth. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Witnesses said council secretary Leah Blyth’s repeated pleas for respectful behaviour were ignored.

A source said: “There were brand new members afraid to speak and others left shaken – this is not acceptable.”

Others downplayed the “vanilla” but “passionate” debate. “I’ve been to heated meetings and I would not class this as one, it was just emotive,” one source said.

The Women’s Council, formed in 1910, is considered an important party organisation.