Roger Corbett to stay as Tony Abbott campaign autopsy launched

The under-pressure president of the Warringah Liberal Federal Electorate Conference has vowed to remain in the post as the party fights to retain the blue-ribbon seat.

Tony Abbott and Roger Corbett.

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The under-pressure president of the Warringah Liberal Federal Electorate Conference has vowed to remain in the post as the party fights to retain the blue-ribbon seat.

Roger Corbett, who was a close ally of Tony Abbott, told the Manly Daily that rumours of his imminent resignation were false and said he intended to continue in the position for the “foreseeable future”.

He was speaking after the first Warringah Federal Electoral Conference (FEC) meeting since Mr Abbott lost his seat to Zali Steggall at last month’s Federal Election.

A motion calling for an investigation into the defeat was passed at the meeting held at Balgowlah RSL on Friday night.

Mr Abbott did not attend but sent a letter which was read to the room.

In it he thanked supporters and wished them well for the future, Mr Corbett said.

Mr Corbett was brought in by Mr Abbott last year to act as a key ally as others in the party turned against him.

Roger Corbett was brought in by Tony Abbott last year. Picture: Hollie Adams

Now with Mr Abbott gone, senior Liberals suggested the former Woolworths chief executive’s days were also numbered.

“There is the feeling that he has done his time and he will move on,” a Liberal source said.

“He was very much Tony’s choice.”

But Mr Corbett said he had no intention of standing down and would continue to work for the party locally.

Prior to the meeting Liberal sources told the Daily that there would be some “ugly bloodletting” and “wholesale changes” of personnel at Friday’s event.

However, while there was some robust discussion the mood is said to have much more restrained.

“It was the opposite of what some had said it would be like,” a Liberal source said. “People were very much unified around a common purpose. So it was very energised, very productive.”

Tony Abbott, pictured at Bob Hawke’s memorial service earlier this month, sent a letter to the meeting. Picture: Brook Mitchell

The source added: “I think there is an appreciation that the electorate has sent a really strong message to the party and that it is our job to learn from that to win back the community’s trust and support.”

Another source said the investigation would involve looking at why traditional Liberal supporters had turned their backs on Mr Abbott — with some even actively siding with and campaigning for Ms Steggall.

“Just a few days before the election the party was scrambling to find people to man the booths,” the source said.

“In the end many booths were manned by conservatives form outside the area. That has never happened before.”

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The source added the “writing had been on the wall” ever since a third of local party members chose not to endorse the former prime minister at preselection in September last year.

“Something should have been done then,” he said. “If someone else had been put forward I am sure we would have a Liberal member now.”

Mr Corbett said he expected Mr Abbott to remain involved.

“Tony is a Warringah resident and I expect him to continue to live in Warringah and support whoever is chosen,” he said.