As a dedicated Liberal voter over the last 50 years I have recently watched with despair as a small number of members within its ranks have taken it down – and to achieve what end ?
Our local member has taken a principal role in this course. Firstly, he was prepared to throw party loyalty under the bus when it came time for ‘‘pre-selection’’.
If he was required to subject himself to this process, he told us, he would cross the floor of parliament. With a one seat majority, such a threat, if carried out, could have had dire consequences. Personal ambition before party loyalty perhaps?
Notwithstanding that the Prime Minister was meeting the Opposition leader in the polls, our local MP joined a group of fellow disgruntled members to take him down.
Craig Kelly was the fourth signature on the petition calling for a spill — closely followed by Tony Abbott. And what did this disloyalty achieve?
And his response to a female member of Parliament being bullied in the work place? She should learn to ‘‘roll with the punches’’.
Says it all really. Surely these are not the standards of this community, as we move towards the end of the second decade of the twenty first century.
R Hood, Illawong
Following the shenanigans in Canberra recently, it is worth reminding the citizens of Hughes that our very own MP, Craig Kelly, has been prominent in the wrecking ball actions of a noisy extremist rump.
He must be held to account; not just because of his climate change denialism that threatens our long term future but also because of his complete and utter recklessness, of his contempt for Parliament and his disregard for the electorate.
We expected our government to govern.
If the Liberal Party will not change their endorsed candidate in Hughes, we, the people, have a right and duty to do so.
Brian Everingham
