Senior Liberals pushing Josh Frydenberg to publically demand Tim Smith quit parliament

Senior Liberals believe that as a protege of Josh Frydenberg, Tim Smith would have no option but to quit politics if publicly denounced.

Senior Liberals are urging federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to intervene and order car crash MP Tim Smith to quit parliament.

State MP colleagues are growing increasingly frustrated with Mr Smith’s defiance of Opposition Leader Matthew Guy’s request for him not to seek re-election and want the Treasurer to step in.

A group of senior Liberals is now pushing Mr Frydenberg to denounce Mr Smith and calling for him to demand the disgraced MP commits to not pursuing re-election.

It is understood Mr Frydenberg and several other federal ministers had been privately backing Mr Smith in the wake of Saturday’s drink-drive incident in which the MP recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.131 after crashing his car into a Hawthorn home.

Most now believe Mr Smith’s career is over following two “train wreck” media appearances this week.

Senior Liberal sources said as a protege of Mr Frydenberg, Mr Smith would have no option but to quit politics if publicly denounced by the Treasurer.

Mr Frydenberg has refused to be drawn on his views about Mr Smith’s political future.

iberal MP Tim Smith is refusing to quit parliament. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Smith blew an alcohol reading more than twice the legal limit after crashing into another car and a fence on Power St in Hawthorn.

Mr Frydenberg has refused to be drawn on his personal views about Mr Smith’s political future.

“Tim obviously by his own admission has done something which has been unacceptable; getting behind the wheel after drinking too much,” he said on Thursday.

“It is something that is dangerous and something that is unacceptable.

“He now needs to take the time to reflect on his own position, a bit of soul searching, he needs to reflect on the words of his state leader Matthew Guy and obviously make a decision about his own future in the coming weeks.”

Senior Victorians Liberals have also called for Federal MPs who are supporting Mr Smith to throw their support behind him in the upcoming Senate preselections.

“Enough is enough. These guys have completely lost the plot and if they’re so desperate to help Tim out, they can have him full time,” one said.

“He will be a great asset for them in Canberra and allow us to focus on bringing down the Premier.”

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Mr Smith has until November 12 to nominate for preselection in his seat of Kew.

If he does he could still be forced out of parliament by being expelled from the parliamentary party or having his nomination for preselection by the party’s administrative committee.

Sources close to the committee said that was unlikely, with Victorian president Robert Clark understood to favour leaving the matter to branch members.

However even if he were to secure preselection, Mr Smith could still be blocked from standing for election by the party.

It is understood potential challengers are being sounded out to face off against Mr Smith if he insists on seeking another term in parliament.

Mr Guy doubled down on public comments he made on Tuesday in which he called for Mr Smith to not recontest for his seat.

“what I said, I stand by. That is very clear. I can’t be any clearer,” he said.

Mr Guy maintained he didn’t feel undermined by federal colleagues who had made public comments about Mr Smith’s future in the Liberal party.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for Mr Smith’s political career to be saved.

“I speak to the Feds as much as I speak to a lot of my state colleagues. We have a good relationship. It’s their party and it’s my party, we’ve all got friends within it, we’re all concerned about each other,” Mr Guy said.

“They have points of view and I do too.”

Mr Smith was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Senior Liberals pushing Josh Frydenberg to publically demand Tim Smith quit parliament