Andrew Bragg proposes NSW constituion reform to ensure Liberal Party’s democratic future

A leading Liberal moderate says key amendments are necessary in the party’s NSW constitution to prevent autocratic leaders denying grassroots members their say.

Andrew Bragg claims key amendments are necessary to prevent autocratic leaders seeking to subvert the party’s democratic processes. Pictured: Liberal Party supporters on election night. Picture: Jason Edwards

A leading Liberal moderate has proposed to reform the party’s NSW constitution, claiming key amendments are necessary to prevent autocratic leaders seeking to subvert the party’s democratic processes and deny grassroots members their say.

A ploy by Scott Morrison and factional ally Alex Hawke to install their preferred candidates into a raft of seats across NSW ended disastrously, with the party only winning three of the 12 seats and Andrew Constance’s losing his bid to regain Gilmore.

Grassroots members were left incensed when seemingly benign vetting processes were weaponised to prevent candidates being selected and moved into the field, preventing the ability for Liberal branches to hold votes on their preferred candidates.

In a letter to party members sent by NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg and Jane Buncle on Tuesday morning, who sits on the party’s state and women’s council, the pair said the reform was imperative to see off any future efforts to subvert the party’s democratic processes.

“Your rights as members of our great Party were taken away before the election. The Liberal Party is Australia’s most successful grassroots movement. It is not a dictatorship and we will not be successful without the engagement of you, our members,” the letter said.

“Your right to have your say and select our candidates is the most important reason to be a member. Yet this precious right was taken away as our constitution was twisted and buckled. We are determined to ensure that this never happens again.”

NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The reform measures seek to reduce the power of the Liberal leader’s representative, limiting their ability to stymie preselection processes; establishing a “clear timetable” for preselections, providing clearly defined periods for opening and closing of candidate nominations.

Mr Morrison sought to use the party’s federal executive body to bypass recalcitrant members of the NSW state executive, eventually dissolving the power of the body to ensure his incumbent MPs and preferred candidates in vital seats could be selected.

Senator Bragg proposed implementing rules for intervention by the federal and state executive in the preselection table, which could “only be triggered if the timetable has failed”.

Mr Hawke also used his position on the nomination review committee meeting (the vetting process) to prevent conservative candidate Michael Abraham being preselected in his own seat of Mitchell.