Anger directed at Party complacency as Malcontents want a scalp

COMPLACENT Liberal Party strategists will face serious internal recriminations over a perceived decision to “pull up stumps” on the campaign several days early because victory was “in the bag”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday called for his party to remain calm after claims he had stopped campaigning at the end of last week.

COMPLACENT Liberal Party strategists will face serious internal recriminations over a perceived decision to “pull up stumps” on the campaign several days early because victory was “in the bag”.

The Prime Minister visited just one electorate on Wednesday, did not campaign at all on Thursday and visited only one electorate on Friday.

In contrast, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten blitzed eight electorates across two states in the final 48 hours before polling day.

Liberal Party Federal Director Tony Nutt has come in for criticism.

There was white hot anger aimed at party director Tony Nutt and chief strategist and pollster Mark Textor who are understood to have told the Prime Minister and nervous MPs the coalition was on track to lose at worst, eight seats.

Mr Textor, who has worked with UK Prime Minister David Cameron, had been frozen out by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott but brought back into the fold by Mr Turnbull. He had previously indicated the party should not worry about losing the conservative base because Mr Turnbull’s appeal to the moderate base would win them the election.

Mr Turnbull and his office are also facing serious questions from furious MPs who are angry the Prime Minister’s office swallowed the advice they were being given.

Coalition colleagues were stunned Mr Turnbull was regularly “knocking off” from public campaigning by 1pm.

So confident was the coalition, Mr Turnbull enjoyed a Yum Cha lunch with his family as the only public appearance on Wednesday — just days before election day.

Mark Textor had previously indicated the party should not worry about losing the conservative base because Mr Turnbull’s appeal to the moderate base would win them the election.

It is understood The Nationals are fuming that their vote held up but the Liberal Party vote collapsed in parts of the nation. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, and widely travelled deputy Fiona Nash, had managed to save his own seat from Tony Windsor and rescue the Nationals from losing the under siege seats of Page and Cowper

Mr Turnbull is now likely to be hamstrung by the conservative wing of his party who will demand a greater say. The Prime Minister will have no option but to agree because he will not be able to afford MPs crossing the floor.

There will be an increased push for Tony Abbott to be promoted into the cabinet but Mr Turnbull again ruled that out yesterday.

It is likely he may promote junior conservatives to the outer ministry in order to calm growing tensions.

Tony Abbott is still not welcome into cabinet. Picture: Braden Fastier

The PM yesterday called for the party to remain calm.

“I can promise all Australians that we will dedicate our efforts to ensuring that the state of new Parliament is resolved without division or rancour,’’ he said.

There is now a view there was a “gaping hole” in the coalition’s campaign strategy because of the departure of former party director Brian Loughnane, husband of Mr Abbott’s former chief-of-staff Peta Credlin, who had run the last four campaigns.

Multiple MPs had expressed concern they would lose their seats but were repeatedly told by campaign headquarters internal polling showed the government would suffer single digit losses.

Tasmanian MPs had indicated the Medicare scare campaign was biting hard in the battling state while at least one poll had showed Wyatt Roy’s seat of Longman was in doubt.

Yet multiple sources have said Mr Nutt and Mr Textor continually advised the government was on track to be returned to office with a reduced but still very strong majority.

On that advice, Mr Turnbull made far fewer public appearances than Mr Shorten.

Despite the poor showing, Mr Turnbull’s leadership is secure. There will be no destabilisation attempt because the party are united in wanting to form government this week.

The result does mean Mr Turnbull will not have a mandate to run the party as he wants.