Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton a no-show at Tasmanian state Liberal council
Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton has made the unusual move of skipping the annual state Liberal conference – but leading figures within the party say it’s not evidence of a rift with Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Tasmania
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Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton will be a no-show at this weekend’s state Liberal council but key figures within the party say his absence should not be seen as a snub of Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
The annual meeting of the Tasmanian Liberals, where almost 200 delegates vote on policies and key leadership positions, typically features keynote speeches from both the state and federal leaders of the party.
However, in an unusual move that is certain to invite scrutiny from his political opponents, Mr Dutton, an arch-conservative, has skipped this year’s event, which started on Friday and continues on Saturday.
Tasmania is the last Liberal stronghold in the country, with the island being the only remaining blue state – led by the moderate Mr Rockliff.
Mr Dutton will be represented at the event by Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume, who will deliver a speech to the party faithful at a gala dinner on Friday night.
Tasmanian Liberals state director Peter Coulson said Mr Dutton was a “busy man”.
“[Federal MPs] have been sitting in parliament all week so [it’s] understandable [that he won’t be there],” he said.
“Jane Hume is a very impressive senator and I know that there’s a lot of our delegates who are really looking forward to hearing what she’s got to say.”
The Coalition is firmly opposed to the Albanese Labor government’s proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament but Mr Rockliff has publicly backed the body.
Asked on Friday whether Mr Dutton’s absence this weekend was related to the Premier’s stance on the Voice, Mr Rockliff replied: “No.”
Debate around the Macquarie Point stadium proposal is also expected to loom large over proceedings at the council, following the defection of Liberal backbenchers Lara Alexander and John Tucker earlier this year, who cited a perceived lack of transparency over the issue as a key reason for their decision to quite the government and the party.
Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley, a leading conservative figure within the state branch, has launched a bid for the party presidency and will contend with Catholic archdiocesan master of ceremonies Michael McKenna. Delegates will vote on who should be the new president on Saturday, with incumbent Chris Gatenby set to depart.
Mr Blomeley last month uploaded a video to YouTube discussing his candidacy and saying he wanted to arrest a “declining and disaffected membership”. The video has since been taken down.
Both Mr Blomeley and Mr McKenna were contacted for comment.
Mr Gatenby said he had “no doubt that the debates will be passionate and robust” at the event, which he said “showed the strength of our party”.
“This is in stark contrast to Labor,” he said. “They can’t be trusted to have a conference like this, because they are so hopelessly split and lacking a leader that they have been put in administration.”
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Originally published as Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton a no-show at Tasmanian state Liberal council
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