Scott Morrison accused of throwing rule book ‘in the bin’

A judge has made a pronouncement that means Scott Morrison’s bitter dispute with his own party mates will continue.

Liberals involved in preselection infighting will continue to be stuck in limbo after a judge said he needed time to rule on a crucial court case.

The NSW Court of Appeal heard arguments on Friday from a Liberal Party member who sued Scott Morrison and Dominic Perrottet over their decision to override local members to preselect three sitting MPs for the upcoming federal election.

Justice John Basten said while he was aware of the urgency of the matter, the court would reserve its judgment.

“The court will give its judgment as soon as conveniently possible,” he said.

The court heard the Prime Minister, the NSW Premier and another party official effectively sought to throw the NSW Liberal Party’s constitution “in the bin” with their move to take control of the branch.

The man who brought the suit, Liberal Party member Matthew Camenzuli, argued the trio had no right to do so, while lawyers for the other side disagreed.

Scott Robertson, representing Mr Camenzuli, told the court the Liberal Party’s constitution did not allow such a move and the three MPs – Sussan Ley, Trent Zimmerman and Alex Hawke – were never technically preselected.

“The affairs of the NSW division aren’t simply swallowed up and become federal affairs,” Mr Robertson said on Friday.

“We don’t suspend the state constitution, amend it, disregard it, throw it in the bin.”

The lawyer for the other side, Guy Reynolds, argued the federal party’s emergency powers to intervene in state branch matters were broad.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet have been challenged in court over their push to preselect three sitting Liberal MPs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“This is a very broad power and it needs to be, to deal with these sorts of difficult situations which may very well be caused by the operation of the state constitution, particularly on something like preselections,” he said.

Mr Reynolds also said internal disputes of political parties, being unincorporated associations, should not necessarily be matters for the courts.

“Endorsements are a matter for the internal administration of the party,” he said.

The Prime Minister is expected to call an election soon and has hinted it will be held in mid-May.

But the party’s infighting has meant several seats, where its chances of winning are promising, still don’t have candidates appointed.

Originally published as Scott Morrison accused of throwing rule book ‘in the bin’