Eric Abetz blasts Liberal election strategy as Brendan Blomeley expulsion situation escalates

Eric Abetz has lashed the party’s re-election campaign, labelling the attacks on Jacqui Lambie as a mistake and lamenting the “blundering” approach of president Michael McKenna.

Liberal candidate for Franklin Eric Abetz speaks on a media panel in the tally room at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. Picture: Chris Kidd

Liberal heavyweight and recently elected Tasmanian parliamentarian Eric Abetz has blasted the party’s recent re-election campaign strategy, labelling the attacks on the Jacqui Lambie Network as a mistake and lamenting the Liberals’ declining primary vote.

Mr Abetz made the comments in a robust defence of long-time member and Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley, who is facing expulsion from the party over comments he made during the campaign.

On Thursday, party president Michael McKenna emailed Franklin electorate Liberals claiming that Mr Blomeley’s membership had “ceased” due to recent remarks he made to the media, where he did not rule out running as an independent.

Mr Blomeley responded by labelling the expulsion attempt “illegal”, and calling a special meeting of the Franklin electorate committee, which he chairs, on April 11 at Bellerive Yacht Club.

City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley at Rosny. Picture: Chris Kidd

In a letter to Franklin Liberals obtained by the Mercury, Mr Abetz described the attempt to oust Mr Blomeley as the most “manipulative attempt to undermine the party’s democratic nature” he had ever witnessed.

Mr Abetz, who serves as the Franklin committee’s deputy chair, also took aim at the Liberal performance at the 23 March poll, in which the incumbent government won just 14 of the 35 seats on offer in the newly expanded parliament.

“Many of you have contacted me to express your disgust and disbelief at the attempt by the state president to expel our electorate chair, Mayor Brendan Blomeley,” Mr Abetz wrote.

“I share your disgust and disbelief.

“As his deputy chair, I can confirm he has my full support.

“At a time when we need to regroup (we’ve just lost 12 per cent of our primary vote), our party leadership should be concentrating on that task rather than destroying our fabric and reputation.”

While Mr Blomeley initially described the reason to expel him as “absurdity on steroids”, Mr Abetz told members that there was no evidence that the Clarence Mayor had either nominated, or said he was going to nominate, to run against Liberal candidates at the election.

And Mr Abetz accused Mr McKenna of drawing negative attention to the party at a time it was attempting to forge a minority governing arrangement with the new crossbench.

“[Mr Blomeley] did confirm he had been approached and after polite consideration declined and backed in our Liberal Team, end of story,” Mr Abetz wrote.

“And so, it was in the media. Now, due to the blundering of our state president, we have an even bigger and absolutely destructive media story.

“It is reminiscent of the counter-productive attack on the Lambie Network during the election.

“I urge you to attend the Franklin electorate committee’s special meeting … to express your views about our president’s behaviour toward our democratically elected chair.

“Yours in true Liberalism, The Hon. Eric Abetz.”

On Sunday, after convening a weekend meeting of the Liberal State Executive, Mr McKenna doubled down on his intention to expel Mr Blomeley from the party fold.

In an email sent to Liberal members and seen by the Mercury, Mr McKenna said legal advice obtained from a Senior Counsel confirmed that his original letter to Mr Blomeley involved a correct interpretation of the party’s constitution.

Mr McKenna told members that the chair of the Franklin electorate was indeed currently vacant, and that the proposed Franklin committee meeting scheduled for 11 April was not an official Liberal Party event.

“As it is not an official meeting of the Party, Members should disregard emails about a Franklin committee meeting on 11 April,” Mr McKenna said.

“Once State Executive has appointed a replacement Chair, a meeting of the Franklin electorate committee will be called as soon as reasonably practicable.

“I hope this situation will be resolved soon.

“Mr Blomeley may apply to re-join the Party at any time.”