Liberal Party critic Chelsey Potter calls for inquiry into disgraced Burnside councillor Julian Carbone

A prominent critic of the Liberal Party and its treatment of women has called for an inquiry into former Burnside councillor Julian Carbone, who resigned last week.

A prominent critic of the Liberal Party’s treatment of women has called for an inquiry into former Burnside councillor Julian Carbone.

Public relations consultant Chelsey Potter was one of the first female Liberal staffers to trigger a national controversy over allegations they had been sexually assaulted while working at Parliament House in Canberra.

The unsuccessful candidate in the Liberal preselection contest for the seat of Bragg has written to new state director Alex May about a social media scandal involving Mr Carbone, who has been politically active in the party in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs for many years.

The married 41-year-old resigned from Burnside Council last week over an $11,500 investigation which found he breached its code of conduct by sending an Instagram message to a 17-year-old girl posing in a bikini during cold weather.

In her letter to Ms May – obtained by The Advertiser – Ms Potter, 33, said she wanted to know what action the party was proposing to take if Mr Carbone still remained involved with the Liberal Party.

Chelsey Potter ran for Liberal preselection for the by-election for the state seat of Bragg. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Julian Carbone has resigned from the Burnside Council. Picture: Instagram

The Advertiser reported last week that two women received unsolicited online messages from Mr Carbone in their late 20s after first meeting him as Young Liberals.

While they said there was nothing offensive or inappropriate, both described the late night contact as “a bit creepy”.

“I understand that this may not be viewed as serious… by some,” said Ms Potter in her letter.

She added, “I believe we must do better.”

Ms Potter said that began with a “zero-tolerance approach towards issues of this nature”.

“Given the significant issues we face in attracting and retaining women in this party, it is now a political imperative – as well an obvious moral and ethical one – that we do so,” she said.

Ms Potter asked Ms May if she or any members of the Liberal state executives “are aware of any other members, or a broader culture of members in our party, engaging, or who have engaged in inappropriate conduct with our youngest party members”.

Ms Potter said she wanted details on the party’s policy “should it be in receipt of allegations of misconduct toward young members in either a current or historical context”.

“If no such policy exists, what is your attitude to the ongoing membership of a Liberal Party member found to be, or alleged to have engaged, in misconduct,” she said.

Ms Potter urged Ms May to “support any actions that would send an unequivocal message to any member of this party who may feel they can act in this way”. Ms May declined to comment.

Mr Carbone could not be contacted for comment.