‘Audit’ following Christian recruitment drive leaves questions over fewer than five applications, senior Liberals say

An “audit” of new SA Liberal members from a controversial right-wing Christian recruitment drive has resulted in most being re-admitted.

An “audit” of new Liberal Party members following a controversial recruitment drive among conservative Christians has left questions over fewer than five applications, senior Liberals say.

At a meeting held Monday evening, the party’s state executive moved to confirm the memberships of 400 applicants, while about another 150 will be invited to reapply using a new, slightly-modified form.

The remainder will be invited to “explain their actions” to the state executive, before a decision is made about their membership, a senior Liberal told The Advertiser.

Boothby MP Nicolle Flint. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“Less than five people will have their membership further reviewed … all of this was over a handful of applications” the source said.

“It’s not a situation where there’s a finding of guilt, they’ll just be asked to explain.”

However, other sources said the entire membership process is now in question, and the Liberal Party constitution could need to be amended.

Senator Alex Antic. Picture: Morgan Sette

The state executive voted earlier this month to put 400 new members on notice, after the conservative wing of the party spearheaded a recruitment drive through largely Christian communities.

Another 150 – who had lodged their applications in the preceding month – had their memberships refused, and all 550 were required to sign statutory declarations affirming their support for the party.

Senior Liberals said the state executive took action after it was confronted with allegations new members were going to campaign against endorsed candidates at the next election.

But the move sparked division within the party, with several conservatives MPs, including Nicolle Flint and Alex Antic, voicing strong opposition and throwing their support behind the excluded members.

One of those members, who was told in an email her membership application had been denied, said on Monday she had not been updated on the situation.

“Nobody has asked me to verify anything … I haven’t received any phone call or email from anyone about it,” she said on Monday afternoon.

The party has consistently said it did not suspend or expel any members – nor move to do so – and the steps taken were not focused on the faith of an individual or specific church.

It said any person who supports the Liberal constitutional objectives and endorsed candidates would be welcomed as a member.