LIBERAL Party officials have been forced to issue a reminder to members about breaking pre-selection rules less than a month before deciding who will be their candidate in Indi at the next federal election.
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The reminder was sent by Indi federal electorate conference chairman Tony Schneider yesterday following comments attributed to anonymous party members who attended a press conference held by Melbourne-based anaesthetist Andrew Walpole at his Whorouly South property last Friday.
The comments, which appeared in a Wangaratta Chronicle article, have been referred to state director Simon Frost and could be interpreted as a crack at pre-selection rival and former Indi MP Sophie Mirabella.
One party member said: “I just hope the members remember that at the Melbourne Cup there’s a very good horse that has won the cup a couple of times, but it’s got a pile of weight in its bags (and) its 12-years-old.
“Give me a reason why I should vote for that horse.
“You know it can’t win.”
Mrs Mirabella held Indi for 12 years before losing the seat to independent Cathy McGowan.
Under Liberal pre-selection rules, party members “must not make or cause to be made any public statement regarding a pre-selection”.
Any member found to be in breach can be disqualified or excluded from the pre-selection convention to be held at Benalla on June 28.
Mr Schneider said he had already made head office aware of the comments.
“When you see something like that you do need to jump on it,” he said.
“I am very aware of making sure the pre-selection is run properly.
“My role is to make sure the rules are adhered to.”
Mr Schneider said he was unaware whether a complaint had been lodged by Mrs Mirabella or the other pre-selection contender, Kevin Ekendahl.
Mr Frost declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
