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Brough takes on the Fisher LNP Committee |
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Written by Les Fawkes
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Saturday, 03 September 2011 |
At
a large and sometimes impassioned meeting of the Fisher Branch of the LNP held at Maleny on
Saturday September 3rd saw changes take place to the Fisher Electorate
Council at the 2011 A.G.M. Approximately 300 voting members of the
committee attended the meeting along with local politicians, both State
and Federal.
Former Federal M.P. Mal Brough was elected as chairman of the committee and this is seen as the first step in his return to Federal Parliament as Mr Brough has already indicated he will stand against Mr Slipper for pre-selection in Fisher.
In a memo to members from the sitting Federal Member for Fisher, Mr. Peter Slipper sent out on August 2nd said, ““If the coup is successful, my position as a parliamentary member of the LNP becomes untenable.” He continued, “That would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament.”
Mr Slipper said after the meeting, “I never suggested that I would leave the party. This matter has to be looked at in perspective. We’re talking about electing him to an organisational position.”
Mr Slipper has been under threat of losing the coming pre-selection battle for the seat as pressure mounts on both him and the party over his extravagant use of his MP expense account. He has also been under pressure over an alleged deal with the Federal Labor Government making him the Deputy Speaker of Federal Parliament. Mr. Slipper said, “I have not made any deals with the Federal Labor government about my voting rights or paired voting.”
There is now speculation that Prime Minister Gillard may offer him the Speaker’s position in return for him becoming an Independent Member of Parliament. Mr Slipper said, “It is my preferred position to remain within the ranks of the federal coalition party.
Many members see this annual general meeting to elect the Fisher FDC executive as a de-facto pre-selection campaign which would see Mr. Slipper and Mr. Brough go head to head for that position.
This might not be a smooth ride for either Mr Brough or Mr Slipper.
There is no guarantee that these two would be the only people to stand as nominations have not yet been called for the position.
On Sunday September 4th Mr. Slipper posted an explanation of his comments on the Youtube website.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 October 2011 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
