By Broede Carmody and Sumeyya Ilanbey
RSL Victoria says the wreath-laying dispute involving former Liberal MP Tim Wilson and a stand-in for Zoe Daniel – the independent who beat him at last year’s election – was regrettable but won’t overshadow the solemn Anzac event.
Liberal members have been privately scathing of Wilson’s conduct during the ceremony in Melbourne’s south-east on Sunday, some claiming his behaviour might jeopardise his hopes of winning preselection for the federal seat of Goldstein, should he decide to have another tilt at politics in six to eight months’ time.
Independent Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel and former Liberal representative Tim Wilson.Credit: Simon Schluter
But the former politician has defended his conduct, saying an RSL volunteer asked him to hold a wreath paid for by his successor because the teal MP was not in attendance. He added that he shared the assortment of flowers once Daniel’s representative identified himself.
Asked why he didn’t let go of the wreath once the sitting MP’s stand-in came forward, Wilson said: “I laid the wreath in the spirit of our community to honour our fallen heroes.”
Wilson said there was a general callout for someone to lay the wreath, which led to it being given to him.
One attendee, who was seated towards the front of the ceremony but did not wish to be identified, said they saw both Wilson and someone they later learned was Daniel’s representative gripping either side of the wreath.
“No one would let go,” the attendee said. “The people from the RSL ... were a bit taken aback.”
A member of the Beaumaris RSL, who was also in attendance but not authorised to speak publicly, said the incident made him and other veterans angry.
“We haven’t got a policy to deal with ex-MPs [wrangling] wreaths,” the member said. “Some of the members think there should be one.”
A spokeswoman for RSL Victoria said in a statement: “Events at … [the] commemorative service were regrettable and didn’t overshadow the importance of Anzac Day.”
Asked to respond to that statement, Wilson said: “It is regrettable that there has been a distraction from the fallen who those at the service came to honour.”
Former Bayside mayor James Long, who ran for council as an independent and attended Sunday’s event, said Wilson had been treated “in a very shabby manner”.
“The MC called for a volunteer,” he said. “There was an embarrassing pause which highlighted Zoe Daniel’s absence. Tim was reluctant at first. I disagree with Tim Wilson on a lot of policies … but he didn’t do it to grandstand himself.”
Asked whether he would have let go of the wreath had he been in Wilson’s position, Long said: “To save controversy, I probably would have [let go of it].”
The Victorian Liberal Party will hold preselection for seats it holds in June, while it formalises its target seats by the end of the year. The party is aiming to hold preselection for those seats, including Goldstein, after the referendum on the Voice to federal parliament, which is expected to be held between October and December.
“[This situation] was catastrophic, just catastrophic,” one Liberal member said on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss internal matters. “It was mind-bogglingly bad.”
The next federal election could be held as early as August next year.
One of the names being touted as a potential candidate for the Goldstein preselection is James Newbury, the Liberal member for the state seat of Brighton, according to a well-placed source speaking on the condition of anonymity. Newbury did not respond to calls for comment.
Speaking to ABC radio on Monday, Daniel said she had organised for one of her volunteers, a man identified as Peter, to lay the wreath on her behalf.
“I’m told that the former federal member for Goldstein took the wreath and would not return it to my volunteer,” she said.
“I think it’s sad, actually, what happened.”
The sitting MP added that there was a “remonstration” and then both the volunteer and Wilson laid the wreath together.
A spokesman for Daniel said Peter identified himself as the sitting MP’s representative when the second group of wreath-layers was called to perform their duties.
“When he got to the table where the wreaths were laid out, it had gone,” the spokesman said.
Both Wilson and Daniel have said Anzac Day should not be politicised.
Footage of a confrontation following the wreath-laying began circulating on social media on Sunday afternoon. In the video, Daniel’s representative can be seen telling Wilson that what he had done was “very inappropriate” and “ridiculous”.
Wilson, who was there to lay a book at the cenotaph, replied: “The federal member for Goldstein isn’t at an Anzac Day service in her community.”
The video was filmed by journalist and author Lucie Morris-Marr, who has publicly supported Daniel on Twitter but says she never volunteered or worked for the independent’s campaign. She said she attended the service because her son is an air force cadet.
“It was not a set-up,” she said. “To be honest, they were arguing three or four minutes before. I wish I recorded the whole thing.”
With Caroline Schelle
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