LNP Senate preselection ballot may be held again after Peter Dutton refused vote

Queensland Liberal Senator Gerrard Rennick lost party endorsement after opposing Scott Morrison‘s vaccine mandates, and now his ousting in a party vote is under investigation over alleged “irregularities”.

Senator Gerard Rennick is fighting for his seat. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The Liberal National Party may be forced to hold this month’s Queensland Senate preselection again as an internal probe prepares to report on alleged “voter ­irregularities” in the knife-edge ballot, including that Peter ­Dutton was wrongly refused a vote.

Senator Gerrard Rennick was booted off the LNP’s ticket for the next federal election after losing by just three votes to party treasurer Stuart Fraser.

Members of the LNP’s state council who attended the July 7 preselection backed Mr Fraser 131 votes to Senator Rennick’s 128.

The first-term senator later appealed the result, questioning the eligibility of some voters at the closed-door meeting where his “party loyalty” was challenged for withdrawing support of the Morrison government in 2021 over its vaccine mandates.

A three-member disputes committee was convened to ­investigate the complaint and is likely to report this week with a recommendation on whether the preselection should be held again.

Independent legal advice has been given that Mr Dutton – who, as federal Liberal leader, is a permanent member of the state council – was incorrectly told by LNP headquarters that he was ineligible to vote because he was unable to attend the ballot.

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Sky News

Mr Dutton was backing Senator Rennick, because he is a sitting member, in his bid to retain the third spot on the LNP ticket, the same position at which he was elected in 2019.

In contrast to the federal ­Opposition Leader, Nationals leader David Littleproud and Brisbane’s Liberal lord mayor Adrian Schrinner – also permanent state council members who support Mr Fraser – were allowed to have votes cast on their behalf despite not attending.

LNP sources said Senator Rennick, who did not return calls from The Australian, has also questioned the eligibility of about five voters in the ballot.

Six candidates stood for the third spot on the LNP ticket – ­reserved for a Liberal to contest at a general election – that included registered lobbyist Nelson ­Savanh and Senator Rennick’s former staffer Mitchell Dickens.

Several ballots were held, with each eliminating the candidate with the least number of votes, until Senator Rennick and Mr Fraser faced off in the final round of voting.

Earlier this month, an LNP source told The Australian that there were “definitely issues on the day” at the ballot in Brisbane. “There wasn’t even a roll call,’’ the source said.

Coloured cards were issued to eligible voters so that they could be given a ballot by officials for each round. Some LNP members have since questioned the eligibility of as many as 10 people seen to be voting in various rounds.

State council is the most powerful body in the LNP and has had up to 400 members in recent years.

Its members are drawn from the state executive, federal and state-based branches, elected parliamentarians and city councillors, life members and elected party officials.

The disputes committee, which includes former Liberal president Bob Tucker and former Brisbane mayor Graham Quirk, will make a recommendation on whether the outcome of the preselection is valid.

A LNP source said the committee’s findings are expected this week and that another ballot being held is a “real possibility”, given the narrow three-vote margin of Ms Fraser’s victory.

“It will only take a few votes to be ruled out and another preselection will have to be held,’’ the source said.

If the committee rules the ballot invalid, then the party will seek legal advice on whether to hold another ballot and how.

LNP state director Ben Riley, who is on leave and could not be reached, has previously declined to comment on Senator Rennick’s appeal.

Senator Rennick, Mr Dutton, Mr Littleproud and a spokesman for Mr Schrinner did not respond to approaches by The Australian.

Longstanding LNP rules prevent any comment being given on preselections without approval from the state director.