Tasmanian Liberal president faces more pressure over expulsion of Brendan Blomeley

An internal dispute in the Liberal Party over the expulsion of Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley continues with two big branches wanting the decision overturned.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley.

The Liberal Party president is facing further pressure from branches to agree to a peace plan reinstating expelled stalwart Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley to “heal as a party and move on”.

The party’s state executive met on Thursday night and members were reportedly gagged from discussing correspondence about Mr Blomeley which was marked “confidential”.

Two of the biggest southern Liberal branches, Sandy Bay and Kingston, have written to president Michael McKenna demanding Mr Blomeley be reinstated as a member and chair of the Franklin electorate committee.

Corey Mingari, the Clark electorate chair wrote to Mr McKenna after the Sandy Bay branch meeting on Wednesday about the “ongoing conflict” regarding Mr Blomeley and imploring him to reconsider his position.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Chris Kidd

“As a member-focused organisation we ignore our member’s feedback at our own peril,” he wrote.

“I ask you Michael to consider your own assertion at the beginning of your tenure as State President that we should be kind to each other. Have we been kind to Brendan throughout this process?

“I suggest to you Michael that just because you could apply the Constitution in the manner you did the real question is should you have?”

Mr Mingari said Mr McKenna should withdraw his letter ceasing Mr Blomeley’s membership.

“Let us heal as a party and move on,” he said.

“Let us cease giving our opponents ammunition.

“Let us show everyone that we can be a united and aligned party that is ready to govern and has the best interest of Tasmanians at heart.”

Kingston branch president Aldo Antolli emailed Mr McKenna after a unanimous vote of support this week for Mr Blomeley.

He sought a response to two motions including one rejecting the state executive’s handling of the appointment of Dean Young to Franklin electorate chair and stating that the membership only recognises Mr Blomeley as the chair.

Mr Antolli also requested the state executive “implement the ‘peace plan’ as outlined publicly (with no opposition or corrections from the floor) by Hon. Eric Abetz for Brendan to be reinstated”.

“The Kingston membership wishes for an update from you on these matters and the status of these motions,” he said.

Liberal state director Peter Coulson declined to comment on internal party matters and Premier Jeremy Rockliff referred inquiries about the state executive meeting to the party.

It is understood a peace plan was drawn up between Mr Rockliff, deputy Premier Michael Ferguson and ministers Guy Barnett and Eric Abetz to resolve ongoing division in the party over Mr Blomeley’s expulsion.

Under the plan Mr McKenna would withdraw the letter ceasing Mr Blomeley’s party membership and Mr Blomeley would apologise for not immediately rejecting suggestions in the media that he was considering standing as an independent candidate at the March state election.