Brendan Blomeley blasts Liberal leadership for ‘reputational damage’

The fallout from the expulsion from the Liberal Party of Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley continues. Read why he’s planning to continue in the party.

AFL High Performance Centre, City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley at Rosny. Picture: Chris Kidd

The rift in the Liberal Party has widened with ousted veteran Brendan Blomeley launching a scathing attack on the party’s leadership for causing “considerable reputational damage” and initiating his own review of the “uninspiring” state election result.

He has signalled he’s set to regain the reins of the Franklin electorate committee by calling a meeting for July 9 – a week after a meeting scheduled for Tuesday night by his replacement chair, former MP Dean Young.

In an email, Mr Blomeley also reveals he believes the state executive has proposed a motion for state council to ensure “an MP, read Eric Abetz”, who topped the poll in Franklin, cannot be a chair or deputy chair of an electorate.

He has asked members to consider his five-page report which outlines a peace plan brokered by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, deputy Premier Michael Ferguson and Ministers Guy Barnett which would have seen party president Michael McKenna withdraw Mr Blomeley’s expulsion and Mr Blomeley apologise for not dismissing speculation he might run as an independent at the state election.

Minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Blomeley said Mr McKenna “reneged” on the deal “at the eleventh hour”.

“I am sure we can all agree that this matter has festered for far too long and has caused our Party considerable reputational damage,” he said.

“As many have expressed, it is a sad indictment on the leadership, or lack thereof, of our Party.

“This matter could have been resolved weeks ago, allowing the Party to concentrate on governing and rebuilding trust both with the membership and the wider Tasmanian population.”

Mr Blomeley, who is Clarence mayor, has had wide support from Liberal branches and plans to continue as Franklin electorate chair.

“When the vast majority of Franklin Members overwhelmingly carry a motion of no confidence in the ‘replacement’ Electorate Chair, Dean Young, it is simply beyond comprehension that he refuses to step aside.

“What’s more, having declared the motion of ‘no confidence’ in himself ‘carried’ on the voices – with no dissent, Mr Young now claims that as he didn’t call for a formal vote, that the motion that he declared carried is now void. To declare the motion carried meant it was carried with the necessary majority.

“You seriously cannot make this stuff up!”

In the light of a 12.5 per cent swing against the Liberals, Mr Blomeley said it was “highly unacceptable” for the party’s state director to review the election campaign.

“In all fairness, marking one’s own homework is hardly ever an accurate way of assessing work,” he wrote.

The Liberal Party does not comment on internal party matters.