SIMMERING tension has surfaced among members of The Nationals about the prominent involvement of Ken Jasper and Tammy Atkins in backing independent Cathy McGowan in her successful 2013 election campaign.
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At the Indi federal electorate council annual meeting in Wangaratta on Wednesday a point of order was raised to have the high-profile local The Nationals identities booted out of the party.
Mr Jasper and Ms Atkins yesterday confirmed their attendance at the meeting where Marty Corboy was re-elected chairman.
But all three were tight-lipped about the point of order, which The Border Mail has been told, was dismissed by Mr Corboy.
Sections of The Nationals remain upset about the highly public support shown by Mr Jasper and Ms Atkins towards the Voice4Indi candidate, Ms McGowan, who claimed the seat from Liberal Sophie Mirabella.
“It was an internal party meeting and what happened at that meeting should stay within the party,” Ms Atkins said.
“I am not the story.
“The story is The Nationals are in town and they are listening to people.”
Mr Jasper declined to comment and Mr Corboy said he wouldn’t discuss internal party matters.
“What is said at annual meetings, stays there,” Mr Corboy said.
“It may have happened and it might not have, but I am not going to tell you.”
Mr Jasper was a long-time state parliamentarian and retains an official capacity with the Rutherglen branch of The Nationals.
His involvement in the McGowan campaign has been questioned by his Murray Valley successor Tim McCurdy.
Ms Atkins said she had been a member of The Nationals since the late 2000s, but didn’t see any conflict of interest with her membership of Voice4Indi.
“Voice4Indi is not a political party,” she said.
“It is a forum to generate political debate and we get people from all sides of politics turn up to meetings.
“A lot of people get confused.”
Ms Atkins and Mr Corboy didn’t rule out running for pre-selection, but the party’s immediate priority is the by-election in Gippsland South created by the resignation of former deputy premier Peter Ryan.
