Liberal reform voting system crashes – NEWS.com.au

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian expects a "robust and at times heated" debate at a Liberal Party reform convention in Sydney on Sunday.

Malcolm Turnbull has urged the convention to back changes to party rules which would ensure grassroots members have a greater say on candidates and policy.

Ms Berejiklian has also thrown her weight behind the idea of plebiscites to select candidates for state and federal seats, but said she understood members had different ideas as to how this could be achieved.

"I know that this issue ... will be robust and at times heated, but that is a good thing, that is normal for a healthy thriving organisation," she told the convention on Saturday.

Mr Turnbull says plebiscites are a "fundamental element of party democracy" and will help boost party membership and motivate members to be more active.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the convention should pass a set of motions proposed by his Warringah federal electorate conference, which would ensure sitting members can be challenged under the plebiscite system and members would need to be signed up for two years before they can vote.

However, Mr Turnbull's moderate faction is working with members of the "soft right" on alternatives to Mr Abbott's motions - including a longer timeframe for members to wait and the protection of sitting members from the new rules.

Mr Abbott says those who oppose his "one member one vote" motions are advocating "fake democracy".

It is expected some disgruntled conservative party members could quit the Liberals if the reforms don't go far enough.

But the former prime minister said his message to those people was "stay and fight".

Liberal president Nick Greiner told the convention it would be "unfortunate" if the party steered away from it being a "broad church", incorporating both moderate and conservative wings.

He said he had noticed in recent times some "lack of civility" in the party and urged all members to advocate with passion but do so in a respectful way.

The final result of the convention will go to the NSW Liberals state director and president, who will prepare the party's modernisation plan to go before a future NSW state council meeting for endorsement later in the year.

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Liberal reform voting system crashes - NEWS.com.au