SA Liberal Party faces new gender row over bitter Senate preselection fight as state MPs handed fundraising ‘targets’

SA’s most senior female Liberal is locked in a tight fight with a hard-right firebrand over who will hold a prime position in the party’s next attempt to take office.

The South Australian Liberal Party is facing yet another bruising fight over who enters federal parliament amid renewed efforts to bolster its coffers.

Almost 220 state party members will vote on four candidates within weeks for three Canberra spots on the Liberals’ 2025 federal election Senate ticket.

But sources say the party, which has been embroiled in bitter factional fights for decades, amid claims the party has a women problem, is facing a new damaging “vanity” fight over who secures top spot.

An internal gender brawl is also looming over the third position after nominations closed on Friday.

Federal Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston. Picture: Supplied

SA Senator Anne Ruston, 60 – the third most senior female federal Liberal who is shadow health spokeswoman and Senate manager of Opposition business – is fighting for top spot for another six-year term against firebrand backbencher Senator Alex Antic, 49, who has galvanised Conservative support.

It is understood Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was dragged into the row, leaving him questioning previous attempts to knock SA’s most senior female MP from politics and a potential future as health minister.

Senator Anne Ruston, Senator Michaelia Cash and Senator Simon Birmingham during Senate Question Time Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Fellow Senator David Fawcett, 60, who served in the Australian Defence Force for two decades, is seeking a fourth term against political adviser Leah Blyth, 43, for third spot.

Moderate sources say Senator Ruston, a former Commonwealth Cabinet minister first elected in 2012, is a strong chance to secure top spot.

Conservative sources, however, believe they have the state council numbers for Senator Antic, a former Adelaide city councillor, who is seeking a second term, to knock her from the top spot.

Senator Alex Antic and SA Opposition Leader David Speirs at the Liberal Party Headquarters. Picture:Brett Hartwig

Right faction sources claimed a “unity” deal, offered through third parties, to inject Senator Antic, at number one, ahead of Senator Ruston, collapsed.

Left faction sources disputed such talks, insisting no direct conversations were held between senators Ruston and Antic – both prolific fundraisers – or fellow right wing leader, Barker MP Tony Pasin.

Senator Alex Antic attends a Senate Committee Estimates Hearing at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Both factions also believe Senator Fawcett, elected to the Senate in 2010 and who is close to former Prime Minister John Howard, faces serious “competition” and is at risk of being demoted to the unelectable fourth position through attempts to “inject talent, enthusiasm and energy”.

This would finish his career, which also included one term lower house member for Wakefield in Adelaide’s north.

Party officials refused to reveal nominees before candidate vetting as early as this week.

All candidates also refused to comment.

Leah Blyth who has nominated for Liberal preselection. Picture: supplied

David Fawcett spearking at Pray for Ukraine in Adelaide, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Picture: Matt Loxton

Fears over a new factional brawl emerged as sources revealed state MPs have been issued formal fundraising targets to help bolster party finances after losing state and federal governments in the past two years.

The party’s state executive – it’s main board – was briefed last week on the party’s finances and efforts to boost revenue that is understood that fortunes were improving after revenue “dried up” after election losses.

Christopher Pyne, Senator David Fawcett and Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price are seen at the official opening of the Supashock Headquarters in Holden Hill in 2019 Picture: David Mariuz

July 8, 2022: South Australian Liberal Party women’ss taskforce 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

It is understood state MPs were last year given more formal targets that included more than a year $60,000 for senior members, several thousand more for leadership while backbenchers were required to source at least $25,000 annually.

This is to help fund legal maximum spending of $100,000 per seat.

While the party’s board was briefed on party finances last week, senior sources said there had been no reminders nor recent “engagements” with MPs about their fundraising.

Officials said fundraising has become “front of mind” ahead of likely changes to funding laws that will reduce caps on disclosing donor details.