Liberal website takes down post after internal investigation

A website that takes aim at senior figures in the Berejiklian and Morrison governments has removed some of its content.

A controversial website that takes aim at senior figures in the Berejiklian and Morrison governments has removed some of its content amid an investi­gation into whether it breaches Liberal Party rules.

The website, Politicom, was started by Liberal Party Freshwater branch president Sean Burke and remains under investigation by party officials to determine whether its postings are in breach of strict rules and codes.

While it is not uncommon for political leaders and policies to be criticised at the grassroots level, the vociferousness of Mr Burke’s attacks, coupled with his role as a Liberal branch president, make this situation more unusual than most. An article headlined “The Conservatives no-one knew were Straight” was taken offline on Thursday following a report by The Australian.

The post ridiculed several former cabinet MPs, including Christopher Pyne, Alexander Downer and Amanda Vanstone, all of whom are renowned Liberal Party stalwarts who have retired from politics, and questioned their sexual orientation.

“Their mannerisms, vocal inflection, policy agenda and general deportment left us in little doubt their preferences lay elsewhere,” Mr Burke wrote.

Another section of the website, titled “Looneybin”, contains a blog post attacking former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull over his successful leadership challenge against Tony Abbott in 2015, ­regarded by conservative MPs as a “knifing” of their leader.

Mr Burke declined to comment when contacted by The Australian on Thursday, but a Liberal Party member associated with him and the Politicom website played down the article about Mr Pyne and others.

The website bills itself as a bastion of centre-right values that ­include matters of classical liberalism, free speech and diversity of thought.

“Perhaps it was a bridge too far,” they said, requesting anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak publicly about Liberal Party matters. “But it wasn’t Sean’s intent to be offensive in any way.”

The source defended Politicom and its “unapologetically biased” attacks on centre-left politicians, including NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean, upper house MP Natalie Ward, and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, all of whom were attacked for having “foxed their way into cabinet and other leadership roles”.

“The vast majority of the grassroots members feel disconnected from the party,” Mr Burke’s associate said. “People have an expectation that the Liberal Party is a centre-right party. Burke is just a conduit to thousands of people who feel the same way.”