Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman apologises to Jim Molan

Jim Molan drops threat of legal action as Liberal MP apologises for “dishonourable” comment.

Jim Molan has dropped the threat of legal action against Trent Zimmerman after the Liberal MP apologised for saying the former ADF member’s conduct had been “dishonourable’’.’

Liberal MP and former party president Trent Zimmerman has apologised to Jim Molan for describing his conduct during the 2019 general election as “dishonourable’’.

The apology comes nearly three weeks after Mr Zimmerman made the remark when calling for new rules to disqualify candidates that asked supporters to ignore the Liberal party’s how-to-vote cards.

After being relegated to an unwinnable position on the Coalition’s Senate ticket in NSW, Mr Molan mounted his own campaign that asked supporters to give him their first preference by voting below the line.

The move sparked controversy with critics suggesting the below-the-line campaign confused voters and undermined the Coalition’s agreement with the National Party.

Mr Zimmerman was later quoted describing Mr Molan’s campaign as “dishonourable’’ because it undermined the success of the third person on the ballot paper, the National’s Perin Davey.

“The article quoted me as saying that Senator Molan’s conduct during the campaign was dishonourable,” Mr Zimmerman’s media statement reads. “I now accept that such a description has particularly meaning for any person who has served in the Australian Defence Forces.”

Mr Zimmerman said the use of the term “dishonourable’’ was wrong and he apologised to Mr Molan for any offence his comments had caused.

“While I remain concerned about any Coalition candidate running separate below the line campaigns for an upper house election, I should have used different language to convey my views”.

In an escalation of tensions following the comment, the former army major-general, who served a year as chief of operations for the coalition forces in Iraq, prepared to take legal action. A move, Mr Molan, said this morning had been overturned.

“I have received an apology from Trent Zimmerman, and this morning he has issued a statement to that effect,” Mr Molan tweeted. “I have accepted his apology, and will not pursue legal action. I will be making no further comment on this matter.”

I have received an apology from Trent Zimmerman, and this morning he has issued a statement to that effect.

I have accepted his apology, and will not pursue legal action.

I will be making no further comment on this matter. #auspol

— Senator Jim Molan (@JimMolan) June 13, 2019

The parliamentary future of Mr Molan, who polled more than 112,000 first preference votes in the federal election and secured the highest personal vote in the country, is still uncertain.

Despite the dramatic result, Mr Molan conceded his senate spot on Wednesday. There is still a possibility he could find his way back into the senate and last week said he would put his hand up for a casual vacancy when NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos takes up his post as Australia’s Ambassador to Washington.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said that while Mr Molan was a “great Senator” and had “done a great job”, the issue of whether he was returned as senator was up to the NSW state branch of the Liberal party.

“It’s up to the NSW Liberal party to determine who they want to represent the Liberal Party and the state of NSW in the senate,” he said.