Liberals to hold party room meeting in person amid ongoing tensions and vote on gay conversion laws

Tensions within the Victorian Liberal party are escalating over the promotion of a former Liberal leader and an impending vote on outlawing conversion therapy.

The Victorian Liberals will hold a party room meeting in person on Tuesday amid ongoing tensions within the parliamentary group that have bubbled to the surface.

The decision to meet comes after a group of five frustrated MPs demanded a “face-to-face” encounter after the elevation of former leader Matthew Guy to a shadow ministry and rule changes that allow 30 people to meet indoors.

Tensions within the party escalated further on Monday after former vice president Karina Okotel wrote to all 31 elected MPs ahead of a looming parliamentary vote on a bill to outlaw gay conversion therapy.

Karina Okotel leaving after attending the Liberal Federal Executive meeting at RG Menzies House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

In the email, Ms Okotel encourages them to read an article she wrote for the Spectator opposing part of the laws that ban informal counselling and religious practices or prayers that could be described as conversion therapy.

In it, she argues that practices similar to torture should be banned but there is a benefit to counselling in which sexual orientation is discussed.

“The bill would prevent a competent adult from being able, of their own volition, to discuss changing their sexual orientation or affirming their gender identity if this does not concur with the way they were feeling,” Ms Okotel wrote.

“This view is inconsistent with contemporary thought that gender and sexual orientation are fluid and, secondly, when did the government become in charge of our sexuality?”

Victorian MP Tim Smith holds a press conference in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

The email prompted a sharp reaction from Liberal frontbencher Tim Smith.

“You should have been expelled from the Liberal Party, and your poorly timed intervention provides me with an opportunity to ask Michael O’Brien why you are still a member of our Party?” he wrote back.

“Michael, do explain why this individual is still a member of our Party, with your factional allies’ support within the Administrative Committee of our Party?”

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien is yet to say whether the Liberals will support the bill in parliament, with the matter to be discussed during the party room meeting on Tuesday.