Election fallout: Victorian Liberals meet for ‘blood letting’

The Victorian division of the Liberal party is preparing to meet for the first time since their defeat at the federal election.

Debate about the teal independents is expected to be raised, particularly after Monique Ryan toppled Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Victorian division of the Liberal party is preparing to meet for the first time since their defeat at the federal election, with members preparing for a “blood letting”.

About 200 rank and file members, along with state and federal MPs are expected to attend the state assembly meeting on Friday night to dissect the federal campaign which saw the party lose four seats in its eastern suburbs heartland.

Campaign reports will be presented by senators Sarah Henderson and Greg Mirabella.

“I hope it’s positive. We don’t really have time to sling mud at each other,” a party member said.

Before the federal election result, another member said the assembly would be a “blood letting” or “celebration”.

Ex-ABC journalist Zoe Daniel defeated Tim Wilson in Goldstein. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Ahead of the state election in November, debate about the threat of teal independents is also expected to be raised after paediatric neurologist Monique Ryan toppled former treasurer Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong and ex-ABC journalist Zoe Daniel defeated Tim Wilson in Goldstein.

Katie Allen’s seat of Higgins also fell to Labor with a swing of 4.5 per cent and Gladys Liu’s seat of Chisholm turned from blue to red with a swing of 6.6 per cent.

Following the defeat, a senior Victorian Liberal has said there is “widespread” dissatisfaction with both state director Sam McQuestin and state president Robert Clark who will both attend the gathering.

Katie Allen’s seat of Higgins also fell to Labor with a swing of 4.5 per cent. Aaron Francis / The Australian

On Friday night, some attendees are expected to voice their support to dump Mr McQuestin and Mr Clark. Many are still fuming over party administrators‘ handling of branch stacking allegations in 2020.

A probe into the allegations, commissioned by Mr Clark, identified suspicious credit card payments and unexplained after-hours access to party membership records, prompting the state party president to order members to co-operate or face expulsion.

Some Liberals have accused Mr Clark of having alienated party members, especially those in the multicultural community, by suggesting their memberships were not authentic.

Mr Clark was re-elected as president in December last year, after he first secured the position in December 2018.

While support for Mr McQuestin and Mr Clark to be booted from leadership is purportedly building, the senior figure said a change in management could only occur during the Liberals’ next state council meeting which is booked in for late August - too close to the state election.

Suggesting that the shift in leadership would likely happen next year, he explained that “McQuestin and Clark come as a pair,” and forcing one out would most likely see the other step aside.

Mr Clark did not respond to a request for comment. Mr McQuestin declined to comment.