LNP row: it’s on for young and old

An internal brawl has erupted inside Queensland’s Liberal National Party between the old guard and party headquarters over allegations of youth branch stacking.

Former Howard-government minister Gary Hardgrave, above, has written to state party president Lawrence Springborg about a last-minute transfer of memberships into the Young LNP South Brisbane branch. Picture: Gary Ramage

An internal brawl has erupted inside Queensland’s Liberal National Party between the conservative old guard and party headquarters over allegations of branch stacking within its youth division.

Former Howard-government minister Gary Hardgrave and LNP powerbroker David Goodwin have written letters of complaint to party president Lawrence Springborg about the last-minute transfer of memberships into the Young LNP South Brisbane branch for a vote to choose its local chair and delegates to elect the next Young LNP president.

Their complaints come amid a long-running stoush between the party’s conservative right and moderates over control of the party.

In his letter, Mr Hardgrave – who is regional metro west chair of the LNP and sits on the party’s powerful state executive – said an extra eight members had been added to the South Brisbane branch list in the 48 hours before Sunday’s vote.

Mr Hardgrave said he tried to have the transfers banned from voting at the meeting on Sunday morning but his “attempts to guide and assert authority were rejected by various YLNP personalities (including political staffers) in the room”.

“As a result the branch’s AGM descended into crisis and chaos as disgruntled long serving grassroots members clashed with what they saw as “the LNP Secretariat-backed branch executive,” he wrote.

“The problem is the margin in elections was less than the eight new members transferred into the branch so those alleging the “stack” are understandably concerned. I am also concerned.”

LNP state director Ben Riley.

LNP powerbroker David Goodwin.

LNP state director Ben Riley said it would be “inappropriate” for him to comment but under party rules, people can switch their membership to a different branch if it is in the neighbouring federal electorate division.

In a separate letter sent to Mr Springborg and the state executive, Mr Goodwin, a well-known conservative in the party, alleged party headquarters was “now ­actively managing factional branch stacking” because it had approved the transfers.

“I have observed witch hunts by senior members of HQ with no due process, in fact I’d call it ­factional bullying,” he wrote. “Meanwhile they have overseen what appears to be a terrible culture at HQ, one in which membership is becoming increasingly concerned.” 

Mr Goodwin’s daughter, Emma, had contested the vote to chair the South Brisbane YLNP branch but lost to Christian Camuglia, a staffer of Queensland senator James McGrath.

LNP insiders said other young LNP members had also transferred into the South Brisbane branch in the week before Sunday’s vote.

Mr Riley issued a legal notice to The Australian, warning against publishing contents of Mr Goodwin’s letter to Mr Springborg.

Sources said Mr Hardgrave had demanded to chair the Sunday meeting – citing his senior role as LNP regional chair overseeing the South Brisbane branch – but was refused.

Mr Hardgrave was the member for the Brisbane seat of Moreton and served in federal parliament from 1996 to 2007.

The Australian understands YLNP president Kate Samios and South Brisbane branch chair Helen Craze were making formal complaints of bullying and intimidation relating to Mr Hardgrave and Mr Goodwin’s behaviour at the meeting.

One South Brisbane branch member, who did not want to be named because they were not authorised to speak about internal party matters, described the men’s behaviour as “low-rent political thuggery”. “This was the most disgraceful and blatant attempt at bullying and intimidation I’ve seen in more than 10 years in the LNP,” the member said.

“To have Gary Hardgrave and David Goodwin – supposed leaders within the party – come and yell at young women at a party meeting wasn’t just an affront to decency, it’s making many women question whether this party even wants them involved.”

Infighting engulfed the LNP ahead of the 2020 state election, where the party lost five seats to Labor.

The Australian has previously exposed bitter divisions within the LNP, which was gripped by allegations of branch stacking, unfair party expulsions and suspensions and the use of star chamber-like candidate vetting and disciplinary hearings to fortify a small group of officials.

One party source said: “We have the best shot of winning ­government that we have had in a long time, so we can’t afford to get sucked into all of this (infighting) again.”