Conservative wing of Liberal Party set to seize power from moderates at AGM this weekend

There’s set to be a changing of the guard at this weekend’s Liberal AGM, bringing to a head a months-long factional power struggle.

The conservative wing of the Liberal Party is expected to seize power from the moderates at the party’s annual general meeting this weekend, bringing to a head a months-long factional power struggle.

Delegates will elect members of the powerful executive council at the meeting, which has been significantly scaled down as a mark of respect after the death of the Queen.

Rowan Mumford, a conservative who ran in the seat of Kavel at the state election, is expected to win the role of president with cross-factional support.

He will replace outgoing Legh Davis, a moderate who served two terms at the helm.

The takeover follows a sustained recruitment drive by conservatives, spearheaded by Senator Alex Antic and accelerated after the party’s disastrous state and federal election losses.

The faction claims to have lured more than 1000 new members in the past year, resulting in the takeover of about a dozen state and federal electorate branches in recent months.

Liberals unbearable? My cartoon in today's @theTiser#saparlipic.twitter.com/nPSxMsNIog

— Peter Broelman (@Broelman) September 17, 2022

But moderates said it remained to be seen whether the majority of those new members would stay, and suggested “they may not be around to make a real difference in the long-term”.

“This kind of thing is not unprecedented ... and doesn’t necessarily change the parliamentary representation,” a senior moderate said.

Moderates have also spoken of a push for members of the state team to assume more control within the party, which is currently dominated by senior federal figures.

Spearheaded by Christopher Pyne and Simon Birmingham, the moderates have controlled the party for more than a decade since wresting power from the Right.

Factional chieftain and then-federal finance minister Nick Minchin ruled the Right throughout the Howard government, backed by allies including Alexander Downer, Alan Ferguson and Cory Bernardi.

Rowam Mumford while campaigning for the the Hills seat of Kavel at the state election, which was overwhelmingly won by independent Dan Cregan. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Conservatives told The Advertiser a shift back towards the Right had been a long time coming, and the moderates have been grappling with animosity within the faction following the two election losses.

In a message to members this week, state director Alex May said “as a mark of respect, this AGM will only fulfil our requirements under the Liberal Party’s constitution”.

“The meeting will include the delivery of formal reports and the election of office bearers only,” she wrote.

“All parliamentary speeches, awards and other special events will be postponed to a subsequent meeting, to be convened at the Adelaide Convention Centre in the near future.”

Ms May said “consistent with this reduced meeting program”, the venue of Saturday’s meeting was changed from the Convention Centre to the smaller Hungarian Club. But broadcaster Alan Jones was still expected to address a right faction event on Friday night.

Among those officially stepping down is the party’s volunteer treasurer, corporate lawyer John Kain.

It is understood the now Sydney-based managing director of Kain Lawyers is retiring after achieving his goal of serving five years.

Mr Kain, 55, had in recent months told senior colleagues, including on the state executive, he would step down, well before a class action lawsuit against his Blue Sky Alternative Investments company was launched.

Originally published as Conservative wing of Liberal Party set to seize power from moderates at AGM this weekend