Peta Credlin deemed too controversial to address Liberal function – The Guardian

Peta Credlin said she was completely unaware of the event: I havent been approached. Photograph: Sky News

A proposal to have Peta Credlin address a Liberal function in Victoria on the subject of party values was kiboshed on the basis that her contribution would be controversial and unhelpful.

A number of Liberal sources have told Guardian Australia a proposal was floated by members of the partys state assembly to have the Sky News commentator and Tony Abbotts former chief of staff address the group at one of its monthly meetings but it was overruled by an organising committee before an invitation was issued.

The group, which is predominantly an administrative body, is chaired by Paul Mitchell, a young lawyer aligned with the Victorian party president, Michael Kroger. It holds regular forums with guest speakers.

Credlin told Guardian Australia on Friday she was completely unaware of the event and the body organising it. I dont know anything about it, and I havent been approached.

The Victorian Liberals are beset by longstanding factional tensions, which played out in an apparent push against the revenue minister, Kelly ODwyer, in the seat of Higgins.

Reports surfaced in April that party donors disgruntled about government superannuation changes championed by ODwyer wanted to enlist Credlin to run against her in the Victorian seat.

At the time, ODwyer was one week into maternity leave after the birth of her second child.

After the story was published, Credlin said she was not interested in taking on ODwyer in Higgins, but she amplified the criticism of the superannuation changes, noting that very few of the frontbench could argue for them or even explain them.

Some party sources say Credlin is in hot demand because shes popular with the party base

In the immediate aftermath of the controversy, Kroger also failed to give unqualified endorsement to the idea that ODwyer would keep her seat.

Given the ongoing factional crosscurrents, which also played out publicly this year when Kroger was challenged for the party presidency by Peter Reith, who ultimately withdrew owing to serious illness internal sensitivities in Victoria run high.

Credlin is a regular at party events and fundraisers and some party sources say shes in hot demand because shes popular with the party base. Other party figures assert that Kroger is keen to promote Credlin.

Liberal sources have told Guardian Australia the proposal to have Credlin speak to an official party function in Victoria was vetoed by the organising committee because it was considered inappropriate, given that she was regularly critical of the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the government.

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Peta Credlin deemed too controversial to address Liberal function - The Guardian