Suspended Hardgrave fails in federal Liberal executive bid

Former Howard government minister Gary Hardgrave has failed to become a vice president of the federal Liberals, months after he had his membership suspended by Queensland’s LNP.

Former Howard government minister Gary Hardgrave on Norfolk Island in 2016, when he was the administrator of the territory. Picture: James Croucher

Former Howard government minister Gary Hardgrave has failed in his bid to become a vice-president of the federal Liberals, months after he had his membership suspended by Queensland’s Liberal National Party.

Mr Hardgrave had been nominated by former prime minister Tony Abbott and used his membership of the South Australian Liberal Party branch to stand for one of four vice-president positions at Friday’s federal council meeting in Sydney.

He was defeated after receiving just eight votes. Former senator Ben Small, Menzies Research Centre director Caroline Inge, Gerry Wheeler and former federal MP Fiona Scott were elected as vice-presidents.

Mr Hardgrave and Queensland conservative powerbroker David Goodwin were both suspended by LNP headquarters for six months in February, pending an internal investigation into allegations of bullying and intimidation that they deny.

Just before their suspensions, the pair had made allegations of branch-stacking, which are also being investigated by the LNP’s disputes committee.

The suspensions are just one of several internal issues facing the Queensland party’s headquarters, as it prepares for the Oct­ober state election.

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton at the Liberal Party Federal Council in Sydney. Picture: Monique Harmer

On Friday, Supreme Court judge Glenn Martin dismissed LNP senator Gerard Rennick’s legal challenge against state director Ben Riley and others, after Senator Rennick lost his spot on the Senate ticket after a vote of state council last year.

Justice Martin ruled Senator Rennick had lodged his legal action too late and ordered he pay the party’s costs.

In the wake of the decision, LNP president Lawrence Springborg – a minister in the Newman government – wrote to members urging them to “now put our full focus and effort into being successful at the upcoming state election in 128 days and the federal election, which is also imminent”.

Mr Springborg said Justice Martin’s ruling meant the Senate preselection decision – to replace Senator Rennick with then-LNP treasurer Stuart Fraser in the third spot – from July last year stood.

This year’s LNP’s state convention will run from July 5 to July 7 in Brisbane