A former ACT Legislative Assembly staffer who allegedly made a Nazi symbol at a pub crawl has quit the Liberal party, before a preliminary investigation into his conduct was finalised.
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The young man is alleged to have raised his right hand in a salute and said "Heil Hitler" at an ANU Liberal Club branch function in September, an accusation he strenuously denies and believes it is politically motivated.
The branch has also not been affiliated with the Canberra Liberals for about a decade.
However a formal complaint was made to the party on November 21 and the man was issued with a show cause notice.
Canberra Liberals president John Cziesla confirmed on Monday the man quit the party last week. It is understood the man left the party to end the media interest.
Mr Cziesla said the preliminary investigation into the allegation had not finished but a report would still be tabled when it was finalised.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the former staffer could have faced disciplinary action ranging from a reprimand to expulsion, although Mr Cziesla previously said the offence was viewed so seriously there could have been grounds to remove him from the party.
The young man used to work for Canberra Liberals Assembly member James Milligan one day a week for three months on a temporary contract. He was also the deputy chair of the Murrumbidgee branch.
Liberals Andrew Wall and Candice Burch attended the event where the action is alleged to have occurred although Mr Cziesla said they were not there when the incident is said to have taken place.
Mr Cziesla said behaviour of that kind was totally and utterly unacceptable.
"We have zero tolerance for people doing this," Mr Cziesla said.
Meanwhile the party is due to finalise preselection for the seat of Canberra on Thursday.
It's understood freelance writer Mina Zaki, former independent candidate for the ACT electorate of Ginninderra Vijay Dubey and solicitor Emmanuel Ezekiel-Hart are in contention for the seat.
Mr Cziesla confirmed there was a "diverse" range of candidates in the running, although would not say who, citing Canberra Liberal convention.
"Preselection is an internal party matter," Mr Cziesla said.
The Liberals are the last major party to preselect a candidate for the seat of Canberra.
Labor picked policy analyst and political staffer Alicia Payne after a bruising internal battle, while the Greens have backed musician and environmentalist Tim Hollo.
Ms Payne held her first street stall on the weekend at Jamieson with ACT Legislative Assembly Labor backbencher Tara Cheyne. She will also front a town hall meeting with Fenner MP Andrew Leigh in Dickson on Wednesday.
Mr Hollo began doorknocking in October with Greens Senate candidate, Dr Penny Kyburz.
The Liberals selected country music singer Leanne Castley to take on Andrew Leigh in the north Canberra seat of Fenner back in October.
In September, they picked Ed Cocks to run against current Labor Senator David Smith in the lower house, south Canberra seat of Bean.
Mr Cziesla said Mr Cocks and Ms Castley had been doorknocking and attending local events, ahead of next year's federal election.
