Liberal campaign beset by threats to quit, surprise announcements and lack of cash – The Age

That fact meant TV ads, social media graphics and other material to spruik the plan which were intended to be released on the same day as the policy were not ready to go. The party subsequently faced criticism because the initial story claimed the party would save more money from the policy than it could.

This week, Guys office again surprised campaign leaders when it decided to announce a policy to put armed Protective Services Officers in hospitals. It came days after the Coalition detailed a debt ceiling, which the campaign team intended to be the first in a week full of economic policies. Those policies have not yet eventuated. The hospital security plan was quickly rubbished by Labor as a rehash of an old, failed proposal.

Illustrating members dissatisfaction with the campaign, senior party members this week expressed surprise in a private Facebook group over the suggestion HQ was not teaching candidates how to add election authorisations to social media posts.

Last week, the party lost its deputy state director, who did not have a campaigning role, and about half of the junior campaigners responsible for individual seat operations.

The campaign director and their staff, who are funded by the party not the taxpayer, are supposed to be in charge of election policy and planning. This week, Guys taxpayer-funded staff and campaign workers moved into the same building to begin operating as a joint unit.

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The enmeshing means leaders from HQ are likely to be vested with greater responsibility to oversee the entire machine. McGowan will leave the campaign next month to start campaigning as an upper house candidate (he is likely to be replaced as Guys chief of staff by his deputy). Meanwhile, experienced campaigners from NSW and former federal ministers offices have been hired, as has former state director and Josh Frydenberg staffer Simon Frost, who is supporting the campaign but is not directly involved.

While some Liberals fear the polls point to a bad election loss, other signs point to a coherent campaign. Labor officials have been impressed by the consistency of the Coalitions messaging on health and the strategic locations of hospital upgrades in key seats.

One party campaigner in Melbournes inner-east said MPs across the city were struggling to find volunteers, and party members were unclear about what the key election policies were other than scrapping the rail loop. In particular, senior Liberals are worried the party has not spent long enough boosting its narrative on the economy, reining in debt and alleviating cost-of-living issues.

On a recent Zoom hook-up, officials agreed to adjust the partys use of social media platforms such as TikTok, which has been criticised by some social media users last month.

Five Liberal MPs told The Age they were frustrated with planning spokesman Ryan Smith, who they believed was spending the weeks before the campaign laying the groundwork for a tilt as the leadership after the election rather than contributing to policy in his portfolio.

Ryan Smith in 2018.Credit:Eddie Jim

Smith has been meeting with a group of new candidates who may enter parliament and vote in a potential leadership ballot. At least one MP has been told he had discussed his leadership ambitions with a new candidate.

Responding to these claims, Smith said: In 2014 and 2018 I did all I could to assist candidates so we could win seats and form government. This election is no different. Im focussed on winning government, thats it.

Pollster and former Labor campaigner Kos Samaras whose RedBridge Group performed work for teal independents before the federal election said the Coalitions level of support was weak across Victoria and indicated the party would not pick up seats Labor won in 2014 which are required to get back into government.

In all the electorates said we have polled now and it exceeds 40 all but one has the Liberal Party primary vote below 40 per cent, he said. Matthew Guys seat of Bulleen had a Liberal primary of 41 per cent, more than 10 points down on his last election result.

Kos Samaras believes the Coalitions level of support is weak across Victoria.Credit:Wayne Taylor

He said the Liberal Party primary vote had shown signs of recovering but the signs of 2010 - when a late Coalition surge defeated the Brumby government - were not present.

The Cormack Foundation an investment fund uninhibited by donation caps that was established to finance Coalition campaigns has given the party a fraction of the amount it wants, leaving the campaign with far less cash than it had for the 2018 poll.

The campaign is seeking between $4 and $5 million but have so far received less than $2 million. Senior Liberals are hopeful more money will be transferred to pay for things such as crucial TV and digital ads, but the current level of funding means the Coalition will begin the campaign well behind Labor, which has an approximately $3 million head start on public funding alone.

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Liberal campaign beset by threats to quit, surprise announcements and lack of cash - The Age