Women and young LNP members claim credit for senator’s dumping

Outspoken Queensland Senator Barry O’Sullivan, who made sexual slurs against a Greens senator, lost his preselection as part of an uprising by regional women and young LNP members who wanted him booted from Parliament.

• No end in sight for ScoMo’s 100 days of hell
• Why our pollies can’t handle the truth on terror

Outspoken Queensland Senator Barry O’Sullivan, who made sexual slurs against a Greens senator, lost his preselection as part of an uprising by regional women and young LNP members who wanted him booted from Parliament.

The combative LNP senator lost the second winnable spot on the Queensland ballot as part of a “preference swap” between supporters of mining executive Paul Scarr and businesswoman Susan McDonald, who secured the top two positions in the July vote.

Despite accusations federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud used his position to work against Senator O’Sullivan, The Sunday Telegraph understands grassroots members angered by the conservative senator’s outbursts are claiming victory for his dumping.

“This wasn’t a hit from Canberra. Regional women, conservative regional women, united against him,’ one senior party source said.

Senator Barry O'Sullivan has lost his preselection. Picture: Michael Ross

“Those backing Scarr and McDonald saw an opportunity to bring their supporters together.”

Sources claim the backlash was in direct response to a string of crude remarks by the controversial senator.

Coming to Canberra in 2014 after he was chosen to replace Barnaby Joyce in the Senate, Senator O’Sullivan made a name for himself in Senate estimates hearings, where he was caught on a microphone calling a senior public servant a “rude prick”.

In 2017 he offended autism advocates after he accused the banks of showing an “almost autistic disregard” for the law.

A staunch defender of Barnaby Joyce, Senator O’Sullivan also urged colleagues not to “shoot your best horse because he jumped the fence and was found in the neighbour’s paddock”when Mr Joyce’s affair with a staffer was exposed.

Late last month, the outgoing senator again copped criticism for suggesting Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young had “a bit of Nick Xenophon in her” in a Senate debate.

Senator Hanson-Young said the slur came after months of abuse from a small group of senators including Senator O’Sullivan. “Real men don’t insult and threaten women,” she said in Parliament.

Senator O’Sullivan has charged taxpayers more than $70,000 to stay in Canberra despite owning an investment property in the capital.

The ex-cop, who has Parliament’s biggest property portfolio, bought the home after entering Parliament in 2014 but has billed taxpayers more than $72,000 to use other ­accommodation.