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Victoria state election 2018: Liberal brawl between president, treasurer threatens to distract

THE treasurer of the Victorian Liberals has launched a stinging attack on party president Michael Kroger, accusing him of wasting $1.1 million on a failed court case against a key benefactor.

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THE treasurer of the Victorian Liberals has launched a stinging attack on party president Michael Kroger accusing him of wasting $1.1 million on a failed court case against a key benefactor.

On the eve of the state election campaign, party treasurer David Mond sent an explosive email to all administrative members accusing Mr Kroger of “self serving autocratic behaviour and rantings”.

The internal brawling is threatening to distract the party from its bid to win government in Victoria, and comes after polling shows federal instability that led to Malcolm Turnbull being dumped as prime minister has hurt the party’s state brand.

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State Liberals are urging colleagues to band together and focus on policies that matter, and some say Mr Mond has form airing missives about colleagues — including one seen by the Herald Sun that took aim at federal minister Kelly O’Dwyer.

Liberal party President Michael Kroger was labelled self serving. Picture: Stuart McEvoy
Liberal party President Michael Kroger was labelled self serving. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

In his latest attack Mr Mond responded to an earlier email from Mr Kroger in which the president said the treasurer’s dealings with benefactor the Cormack Foundation would have cost the party millions of dollars.

“The management of the actual case itself that you (Kroger) controlled was a disaster including in my view gross misconduct in spending $1.1m in legal fees,” Mr Mond says

Mr Mond accused Mr Kroger of being a transactional politician who’s behaviour has ‘blown up the party.’

Mr Kroger declined to comment and Mr Mond could not be reached.

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The long-running dispute with Cormack saw the party taking its benefactor to court to try to get control of more than $70 million the foundation holds.

While the action failed, the party eventually did a deal with the foundation that saw it reap $2.5 million for the state campaign.

One said it would have been good to settle the Cormack dispute much earlier so that Matthew Guy’s profile could have been lifted through extra political advertising.

The latest internal brawling is an unwelcome distraction as the party tries to stay on track in the early stages of the election campaign, with the latest Newspoll showing the Coalition’s vote going backwards amid federal government turmoil.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on the hustings. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on the hustings. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Tuesday dismissed today’s negative poll numbers, pointing out that independent Nick Xenophon’s popularity was falsely inflated during the South Australian election, along with the Liberal candidate in the federal by-election in Longman.

Mr Guy also dismissed questions raised about his relationship with Scott Morrison, as he visited the southwest coast a day after the Prime Minister was in Victoria.

“I’ll be standing next to him again,” Mr Guy said.

He blamed “political conspiracy theories” for suggestions he was avoiding calling on the federal Liberal leader’s support during the state election campaign.

Senior Liberals say the party has plenty of time to close the gap in polls.

james.dowling2@news.com.au

@jameswdowling

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-state-election-2018-liberal-brawl-between-president-treasurer-threatens-to-distract/news-story/946cf6e4d9101367f8299970b46c0cdf