Tardy state branches stymie snap poll

The Liberal Party appears ill prepared for a snap poll as state branches lack funds and lag in choosing candidates.

Turnbull’s last available election dates this year would be December 1 and 8. Picture: Kym Smith

The Liberals’ campaign organisation is bracing for the possibility of an early election sparked by leadership turmoil, but the party appears ill-prepared as state branches lag in choosing candidates and complain of funding shortages.

Senior Liberal sources told The Australian that state party directors would scramble to fill seats with preselected candidates if an election were “sprung” on them by a change of leader seeking a mandate from the people.

They remain concerned, however, about a lack of campaign preparations in Victoria especially, where candidate preselections are still to be held in competitive seats such as McNamara (formerly Melbourne Ports) and Indi. Administrative steps are needed to confirm the nominations of frontbenchers including Josh Frydenberg, Kelly O’Dwyer and Greg Hunt.

The NSW Liberals are better organised but are still to finalise candidates for the party’s key seats Hughes, held by Craig Kelly, and Gilmore, held by Ann Sudmalis.

A candidate is still to be chosen for the marginal seat of Lindsay in Sydney’s west, which the party thinks it can win back after controversy involving departing Labor MP Emma Husar. The NSW party is also yet to select candidates for some Labor-held seats.

With October 20 looking to be the earliest date a federal election could be held, any rush to select candidates would be slowed by vetting to ensure candidates were eligible under section 44 of the Constitution, minimising the risk of repeating forced resignations that led to a spate of by-elections.

Even if the Prime Minister advised the Governor-General this week to dissolve parliament and issue writs for an election, the minimum 33-day ­period before polling day would rule out any election next month.

An election could be held, in theory, on September 29 but it would clash with the weekend of football grand finals when governments typically avoid sending voters to the polls.

The first practical date for an election is October 20, the first Saturday after the conclusion of school holidays. Other possible dates are October 27 and November 3, 10 and 17.

Victoria’s election is scheduled for November 24, making a federal election on this day unlikely. Mr Turnbull’s last available dates this year would be December 1 and 8.

State Liberal organisations had been preparing for an anticipated election by May 18 next year at the latest — the final date under constitutional provisions when an election for the House of Representatives can be held simultaneously with a half-Senate election. The earliest date for such an election was on August 4.

Even if the Turnbull government runs to its full term, the common complaint from Liberal Party organisations is a shortage of campaign funds. A snap poll would prompt an urgent call-out for funding by large corporates and individual donors.

The donations appeal is expected to be based on a “negative” message that a big injection is needed to stop the election of Bill Shorten.

This week’s leadership turmoil has caused special consternation in NSW as the home state for Mr Turnbull and his main antagonist, Tony Abbott. Senior Liberals said NSW was meant to be the “jewel in the crown”, as it was for Labor, and the party wanted to keep the leadership in the state and shore up frontbenchers including Scott Morrison, Craig Laundy, Paul Fletcher and Marise Payne.