The Victorian Liberal Party is investigating an influx of new members in the federal seat of Menzies, following extraordinary allegations raised by veteran conservative MP Kevin Andrews.
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Mr Andrews, a former cabinet minister in the Howard and Abbott governments, had demanded the Victorian branch immediately investigate a wave of new members who have been signed up in his own seat, in an apparent attempt to undermine him.
In an extraordinary move for a sitting MP, Mr Andrews wrote to the Victorian party's administrative committee saying the new members – understood to be about 50 people – should be barred from membership in his Menzies electorate.
He also flagged concerns about a recent influx of new members in neighbouring seats. Those seats are understood to include the federal electorates of Kooyong and Aston, and the state seat of Kew, which is situated within Kooyong.
In a letter to the party's administrative committee last week – seen by Fairfax Media – Mr Andrews questioned the character of some of the new members in his push for the urgent probe into their membership.
"I write to you convey concern about new members who have applied to join the Liberal Party [in Menzies]," Mr Andrews stated, adding the new members appeared to have joined the party at the request of former Labor candidate Joe Italiano, or people connected to him.
Mr Italiano attempted to join the Liberal Party but has now been barred. Fairfax has been told that Mr Italiano was barred because his membership application had not included details of his past membership of the Labor Party.
"There seems at face value to be a serious matter that requires investigation given the backgrounds of the new applicants and the timing of the applications," the letter said.
"There is a prima facie case for a full investigation of these applications and a decision not to approve them at this stage."
Fairfax has been told the Victorian branch's administrative committee has agreed to investigate the issue raised by Mr Andrews.
However, the party's state director, Simon Frost, said the proceedings of administrative committee meetings were confidential.
He said the party had established internal vetting processes for new memberships in conjunction with federal and state electorate conferences.
Mr Andrews' safe Liberal seat has long been regarded as a valuable prize. At one point, former prime minister Tony Abbott's then chief-of-staff, Peta Credlin, was touted as a possible replacement for Mr Andrews.
He has held the seat since a 1991 byelection and it is understood he plans to contest the next federal election, which is due in late 2018 or early 2019.
