Mother and son act angers Libs, sabotages former Senate president’s political comeback

Every mother wants the best for her son but a senior Liberal has been accused of betraying the party to give her pride and joy a leg-up in politics.

Veteran Tasmanian Liberal MP Leonie Hiscutt has sparked outrage within her party, with claims she is breaching party rules by publicly helping her son – Casey Hiscutt, an independent - in his bid to beat an endorsed Liberal to win her seat. Picture: Facebook

Senior Tasmanian Liberal MP ­Leonie Hiscutt faces claims she is breaching party rules by supporting her son – an independent – in his bid to beat a preselected Liberal to replace her.

Ms Hiscutt, the state government upper house leader, retires at elections in May after 12 years, and the Liberals have endorsed former Senate president Stephen Parry to contest her seat of Montgomery.

However, Ms Hiscutt’s son Casey is standing as an independent for the northwest Legislative Council seat.

His 66-year-old mother has used her MLC Facebook page to share dozens of posts by his “candidate for Montgomery” Facebook account, trumpeting his involvement with community groups and events.

Ms Hiscutt has also used her MLC page to make posts featuring her son, tagging his candidate Facebook account, while posts suggest he has officially filled in for her at a least one event.

A Facebook post by independent candidate Casey Hiscutt, revealing he has been officially representing his mother, a Liberal MP, at public events, as he campaigns to win her seat against an endorsed Liberal.

Party members supportive of Mr Parry’s attempt to return to politics told The Australian such public support for her son was a clear breach of party’s constitution. There are questions on whether her conduct has effectively led her to be expelled from the party.

Section 34 of the Tasmanian Liberal Party constitution states a member “shall automatically cease to be a member” if they “actively assist” any non-Liberal candidate standing against an endorsed Liberal.

“Leonie was elected as a Liberal with the assistance of the party, and supported by the party in that seat for 12 years; now she’s actively campaigning for an independent – her son,” one member said.

“This is a Liberal seat and most members want to see a Liberal elected.”

Veteran Tasmanian Liberal MP Leonie Hiscutt has shared dozens of her son’s candidate Facebook page posts, prompting claims she is breaching party rules by helping an independent take on an endorsed Liberal.

Sources said the issue had been raised among members but it was not clear whether any formal complaint had yet been made to the party’s state executive. “Quite a few people are very disappointed in her conduct,” one member said.

Members said while it was to be expected that a mother would support her son, to do so publicly using her MLC Facebook account – and to have him represent her at official events – had “overstepped the mark … It goes to show that blood is thicker than water.”.

Ms Hiscutt and Mr Parry declined to comment. Liberal state director Sam McQuestin did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

On November 11, 2024, Mr Hiscutt’s “candidate for Montgomery” account posted about his attendance at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Ulverstone’s Clock Tower. “I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of ­Leonie Hiscutt MLC,” he posted.

Another Facebook share by Liberal MP Leonie Hiscutt of her son’s independent-for-Montgomery posts.

Mr Hiscutt has also mentioned his mother, tagging her MLC account, in a number of posts on his candidate Facebook page, while posting a picture of the two together on the same page as his Christmas message.

Internal critics said a key issue was the use by Ms Hiscutt of her MLC account rather than a private one to back her son, and Mr Hiscutt similarly using his candidate account rather than a private one.

They said having a sitting Liberal MP appear to endorse an independent was sabotaging Mr Parry’s attempt to return to politics, following his resignation from the Senate in 2017. Before his 13-year Senate career was cut short by the dual citizenship constitutional issue, Mr Parry was widely respected within the party and seen as having a long political future.

Mr Hiscutt would be the fourth in his wider family to be elected to the Legislative Council, with all but Ms Hiscutt being independent.

Liberal MP Leonie Hiscutt shares another of her son’s independent-for-Montgomery Facebook posts.