Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives’ tilt at November’s state election was disintegrating on Monday, with the party’s leader sharply at odds with its only MP in the state over a contentious new campaign strategy.
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Senator Bernardi wants to throw all of the party’s resources behind just one candidate in the Victorian election: its sitting upper house MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins.
But the Metro West MP hit out at the move almost immediately, branding it a “retreat” and saying rank-and-file party members were furious and threatening to resign.
The party's 4000 or so Victorian members were told on Monday afternoon that Dr Carling-Jenkins, who was first elected to Parliament for the Democratic Labor Party, would be its sole runner when the state goes to the polls.
The start-up party previously had hopes for a much wider tilt at November's election and explored the idea of fielding candidates in all eight upper house districts.
But Senator Bernardi told The Age that his party’s research had shown the race for Victoria’s upper house was a “lottery” for smaller parties and fielding a full ticket for the 40-seat chamber was neither viable nor sustainable.
The former Liberal Senator said it was in the party’s interests to focus its efforts on winning Senate seats in the yet-to-be-called federal election.
Dr Carling-Jenkins hit out at the decision almost immediately, saying she was not consulted nor was she aware of any other Victorian party members being told about the new strategy.
“Since receiving the email outlining this strategy, I have had a flood of member complaints who are threatening to leave over this decision,” she said.
Dr Carling-Jenkins described the Andrews Labor government as “the most destructive government for conservative values” in Australia.
“Victoria’s state election is a pivotal battleground, where threats to our families and our very way of life are tangible,” she said.
“For a conservative party to retreat from the field in this way is a regressive step.”
The Conservatives also face a crowded field, with several minor outfits vying for the non-mainstream right-of-centre votes with both Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation having registered to run candidates.
Senator Bernardi said on Monday that his party needed to marshal its resources wisely.
“As a new party, the Conservatives need to allocate our limited resources for maximum effect,” he said.
“The preferencing system in the Victorian upper house makes it a lottery for smaller parties.
“We’d love to run a full-scale campaign in Victoria – and everywhere else in Australia – but the reality is that we need to boost our Senate presence before that is a viable option.”
“Until then we have to be strategic and focussed in our approach.
“That means supporting Dr Carling-Jenkins’ re-election and providing a genuine Conservative alternative for every Victorian in the Senate.”
