Photo: Tony Abbott made it clear he would not abandon his own motion. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

Tony Abbott accused of 'supporting Trump-wing takeover' by NSW Liberal Party powerbrokers

By political reporter Stephen Dziedzic

22  Oct 2016,

Powerbrokers in the New South Wales Liberal Party have slammed Tony Abbott ahead of Saturday's state council meeting, which is threatening to descend into a proxy war between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his predecessor.

Mr Abbott and his supporters have been pressing for sweeping changes to the way the NSW Liberal Party operates.

They will use the meeting to introduce a motion that would give party members the right to vote in preselections, arguing that will rejuvenate the organisation and arrest a sharp decline in membership.

The former prime minister insists he is focused on diluting the power of factional warlords in the state.

But some of Mr Turnbull's supporters are convinced he is using the issue of party reform as a vehicle to destabilise the Prime Minister's leadership and exert his influence in the state, which is home to both men.

Yesterday the Prime Minister tried to head off Mr Abbott's motion by unveiling an alternative reform plan with the New South Wales Premier Mike Baird.

The Turnbull-Baird plan is broader than the "Warringah" plan championed by Mr Abbott and his local branch.

It proposes expanding the party's membership by giving extra resources and participation opportunities to members, as well as more training for office bearers and candidates.

The Prime Minister and the Premier have endorsed the principle of giving party members a "direct vote in the preselection process".

But the way that preselection process would operate would not be finalised until early next year at a Party Futures Conference, which would determine a more comprehensive strategy to modernise the party.

Mr Turnbull said yesterday his plan was focused on "modernising and renewing" the state party, and his backers argue it is aimed at uniting all the factions behind genuine reform.

Abbott 'supporting Trump-wing takeover'

Mr Abbott has indicated he will vote for the Turnbull-Baird plan — but has also made it clear he will not abandon his own motion.

He told Fairfax media it would be a "very bad look" for the party to vote against his motion, as well as "an implicit criticism of divisions that do have one member one vote".

Mr Abbott's critics are unimpressed.

"The Prime Minister and the Premier put forward a consensus outcome that includes all elements of the party," one Liberal Party source said.

"It's disappointing that Tony Abbott is more interested in supporting the Trump-wing takeover than genuine reform."

The source also poured scorn on Mr Abbott's push for preselection plebiscites, saying it was "designed to empower branch stackers at the expense of genuine and active members".

Party members behind the Turnbull-Baird plan warn that extra safeguards should be introduced — such as an "activity test" to ensure those given a vote are genuine members with a record of participation in the party.

One of Mr Abbott's backers said that was code for inaction and delay.

"The Warringah plan is the best plan we have to actually drive change in the party. The powerbrokers have their tentacles through it right now, and if we want to get rid of them then we need one member, one vote, and need it now," he said.