Kiama MP Gareth Ward has stopped short of categorically denying involvement in Sunday’s “shake-up” of the Gilmore Federal Electoral Conference (FEC).
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“I will not comment on internal party matters, I wasn’t at the meeting and was not even in the electorate,” he said.
“I was in Wagga campaigning for a by-election down there,” he said. “It’s all over my social media.”
But he would not categorically rule out having a hand in the shake-up, again stating it “was a matter for party members”.
The drama in the Liberal Party at federal level over the past week has filtered down to a local level with a coup within the Gilmore FEC.
It is understood at the local annual general meeting on Sunday, chaired by former Defence Minister now Foreign Minister Marise Paine, a number of Ann Sudmalis’ supporters were voted out of senior positions.
The Gilmore FEC is responsible for organising and running the campaign for the federal member.
Adam Straney, who earlier this year considered standing against Mrs Sudmalis for preselection for Gilmore, before ruling himself out, was elected FEC president. Jan Gregory is secretary and Dave Gregory treasurer.
It was reported Mrs Sudmalis was so incensed by the vote, she yelled at party members before storming out.
It's a party matter and I will not be talking about it.
- Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis
The alleged incident was the focus of some robust questioning by local media at the latest concept design and environmental assessment launch for the new Nowra Bridge on Monday.
However Mrs Sudmalis was not buying into any of the speculation, repeatedly stating it was “a party matter” and refusing to talk about it.
She would not answer questions as to who she thought was behind the moves or if she was quite upset and walked out.
Mrs Sudmalis said Grant Schultz, who has declared an interest of standing for Liberal Party preselection for Gilmore, was “within his rights to nominate”.
“In the last week we’ve seen we live in a robust democracy and [Mr Schultz] is exercising his democratic right to challenge,” said Mrs Sudmalis, who holds Gilmore by a margin of just 0.73 per cent.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward was a surprising absentee at the Nowra bridge event on Monday, “carrying out other parliamentary duties”.
It was left to South Coast MP Shelley Hancock to field questions about the machinations in the federal Liberal Party over the last week and whether they would hamper her own or Mr Ward’s re-elections next March.
“I don’t think what has gone on federally has damaged our brand - people are smarter than that.”
Mrs Hancock would not be drawn on rumours a state MP was behind the Gilmore FEC spill, saying it was “an internal party matter and should not be discussed by party members.”