Disgraced Ex-Minister sparks crisis for LNP ahead of state election
The re-emergence of a one-time LNP factional war lord has caused an explosive rift within the Queensland LNP.
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The re-emergence of a one-time LNP factional war lord has caused an explosive rift within the Queensland LNP just months out from a state election, with battlelines drawn between supporters of David Crisafulli and Peter Dutton.
At the centre of the spiralling conflict is disgraced former Howard government minister turned lobbyist Santo Santoro, who is vying for a seat on the party’s powerful decision making state executive.
His candidacy was deemed illegitimate by LNP head office at the eleventh hour based on internal party rules from 2011 banning lobbyists from state executive on top of tough new Queensland integrity laws.
But in an explosive meeting attended by more than 300 LNP members in Brisbane’s inner-north on Thursday, Mr Santoro’s supporters — including state LNP MP Tim Nicholls — moved a motion of no confidence against LNP director Ben Riley and headquarters.
Mr Santoro counts federal MP Luke Howarth, who acts as Mr Dutton’s proxy on state executive, and other conservative LNP members as supporters.
His supporters say they are backing him as a protest vote against party HQ, and warned they would not stop until the “factional war house” was broken up. But moderate liberals, and those closely aligned with state Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, said Mr Santoro had been caught out in a lie and was a significant integrity risk for the party.
It is understood Mr Santoro moved to deregister himself as lobbyist from the Queensland and federal register as late as hours before the Thursday evening meeting.
Lobbyists are banned from playing a “substantial” role in Queensland election campaigns under the state’s integrity laws.
But the LNP also banned lobbyists from being part of the state executive in 2011, in a move to clamp down on conflict-of-interests — including those of Mr Santoro at the time.
An LNP figure noted Mr Santoro could not be ignorant to the rules as he had lived them.
The federal lobbyist register shows Santoro Consulting was deregistered at 9.26am on Friday.
Mr Santoro is no longer listed on the Queensland lobbying register, though it shows he had done lobbying work as recently as Wednesday.
It means he was more than likely ineligible for the role at the time he nominated for it.
LNP members on either side of the conflict agree the escalating internal infighting was unhelpful less than six months from the state election, with one senior figure saying “the biggest risk to our election chances are ourselves”.
A vote was ultimately held between Mr Santoro and his opponent for the position Tony Gleeson, but the ballots were sealed and remain uncounted as party headquarters seek urgent legal advice.
Votes were held for three other positions that evening, with two won by supporters of Mr Santoro.
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