THE Liberal Party candidate in the new state seat of Euroa at November’s state election was prevented making announcements during the campaign.
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In what has been cited as a further example of tense relations within Coalition ranks, Benalla physiotherapist Tony Schneider was forced to play second fiddle to the Nationals’ Steph Ryan, who won the seat.
Ms Ryan has since been elected the Nationals’ deputy leader.
The frustrations were aired this week in Mr Schneider’s hometown, where the Liberals met to review the Coalition’s disastrous election loss after only one term in office.
The Liberals argued boundary changes, the creation of new seats and the retirement of long-time member for Benalla Bill Sykes had paved the way for both Coalition parties to field candidates in Euroa.
But they claim they were hamstrung by Ms Ryan being given an eight-month headstart and Mr Schneider being unable to make announcements or commitments on behalf of the Coalition after he entered the campaign.
Mr Schneider couldn’t be contacted for comment, but a party member who attended the forum said: “With friends like the Nationals who needs enemies?”
“From our point of view in this region of Victoria, the Coalition agreement is a serious target for reform.
“The Nationals criticised us for running in Euroa but, judging by their publicity this week, they intend to fight hard in the federal seat of Indi, capitalising on their own members’ treachery against Sophie Mirabella.
“Why do we give upper house seats away to the Nationals when they are actively working against us?”
Ms Ryan said campaign arrangements were the responsibility of party headquarters.
“Any negotiations would have taken place between the Liberal and Nationals state executives,” she said.
“I worked for a full year before the election to meet communities and work out what their priorities were.
“The focus for all of the Coalition needs to be on 2018.”
Further incensing the Liberals was the decision not to stand a candidate in the seat of Shepparton where the Nationals’ Jeanette Powell was retiring.
That seat was won by independent Suzanna Sheed.
“It was pointed out that if a Liberal had stood in Shepparton, the seat would likely have been retained by the Coalition,” the party member said.
Among the attendees at the Benalla forum were former federal minister David Kemp, who is heading the review, and state president elect Michael Kroger.