Liberal Party showdown looms over expulsion of mayor Brendan Blomeley

The fallout from the expulsion of Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley from the Liberal Party continues to cause ructions. The split could come to a head at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Mayoral candidate Alderman Brendan Blomeley Picture: Linda Higginson

A Liberal Party showdown is looming at a meeting called by the replacement chair of a committee led by ousted party veteran and Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley.

Dean Young, who lost his Franklin seat at the March state election, was the only nominee to state executive for the position of chair of the Franklin electorate committee. He has called a meeting for Tuesday night.

At recent meetings of the committee, 85 members supported Mr Blomeley and carried a motion of no confidence in party president Michael McKenna, the director of chancery services with the Catholic archdiocese.

His membership ceased because of comments he made where he did not rule out running as an independent at the state election.

In an email. Mr Young said he had not taken on the chair position “lightly”.

Franklin electorate committee chair Dean Young. Picture: Chris Kidd

“My sole focus is on moving us forward,” he said.

Mr McKenna also recently emailed members “about an individual whose persistent actions might reasonably be interpreted as a disregard for the Party’s interests, for reasons that many of us find difficult to understand”.

“I share in your frustration and disappointment at the persistent ventilation of internal Party matters by some in the media,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately, this happens from time to time when people lose sight of what the Party is about.

“Fortunately, in every single instance, the Party has prevailed, the rules that we share and respect have been upheld and we have remained resolute.

“I have no doubt that this will be the case yet again, but I think it is worth outlining clearly and definitively the steps that your Party has taken to ensure that we can continue to focus on what’s important and not be distracted by certain individuals.”

Mr McKenna said it was a “mistake” for Mr Blomeley to not immediately rule out running as an independent.

“It cost the Party clean air for its message in the middle of its campaign,” he said.

“It assisted the narrative of our political opponents against us. It materially breached the rules in our Constitution, the consequences of which are automatic.”

Mr McKenna said it would be a “dangerous precedent and would seriously damage Party unity” if members were allowed to breach the party’s constitution.

He said Mr Blomeley was one of three people whose membership ceased for breaching clause 33a during the election.

“Should the individual concerned wish to re-join the Party, we would welcome an application as prescribed in the Constitution and give it proper, fair consideration.”

At a meeting last Tuesday, as well as declaring no confidence in Mr McKenna, members also called on the state executive “to immediately arrange for a comprehensive independent review of the 2024 State Election result”.

The Huon Branch said it was “extremely disappointed in the unconstitutional attempt to expel the Franklin Chair Brendan Blomeley”.

Originally published as Liberal Party showdown looms over expulsion of mayor Brendan Blomeley