A LOCAL Liberal party member says there is no evidence that members are walking away from the Goulburn branch or that support for sitting MP Pru Goward is declining.
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Alix Turner also argued that while the ICAC revelations had tarnished the party, implicated MPs had done the right thing in stepping down.
Mr Turner was responding to claims by another party member, John Plews that Goulburn branch numbers had dropped off significantly and voters were disgusted by the ICAC revelations.
It came after only a handful of the Goulburn branch faithful attended a fundraising lunch for the sitting Liberal in Goulburn last Friday.
Ms Goward told the Post following the function that they were mainly “friends and supporters.”
They included Southern Highlands members such as Wingecarribee Mayor and state executive member Julia Arkwright. Others came from Yass and region to the function at which Premier Mike Baird was guest of honour.
In a letter published in Friday’s Post, Mr Plews stated that in the lead up to Angus Taylor’s successful Hume campaign the branch had almost 100 members.
It was the largest non-metropolitan branch in NSW even beside Wagga Wagga’s with its 60,000 population.
“(This had) crumbled to an attendance of only eight members (and one visitor) at the last meeting in early August under new president, Grant Pearce,” Mr Plews wrote.
He told the Post that people were simply not renewing their membership.
But Mr Turner, a Wayo grazier said this was not his understanding.
“I didn’t go to the last branch meeting but I’ve been at most of them and we usually get about 30 people turning up,” he said.
“If only eight were at the last meeting, in my experience that would be the exception rather than the rule.”
He said he had no reason to believe that members were “walking away” and maintained the branch was “two to three times” its past size.
Goulburn Liberal party branch president Grant Pearce said, via email, that he could not supply membership numbers but the branch “is the largest in the state.”
Hard working
Liberal Party state president Tony Nutt’s office also said they would not disclose figures “but they were similar to two years ago.”
“Ms Goward is a very hard working and effective local member who is representing her community,” the spokeswoman added.
Mr Plews said ongoing controversy over major developments in this region such as Gullen Range wind farm, the Jupiter wind farm near Tarago and the Ardmore Park quarry at Bungonia “risked a challenge from a non- Labor independent.”
Residents’ groups have claimed Ms Goward has not championed their concerns and has been “gagged” by her role as Planning Minister.
“Overriding all this is the continued disgust regarding political donations to Liberal Party candidates,” Mr Plews wrote.
Ms Goward told the Post she was confident she had not received an illegal donation in the lead up to the 2011 election.
Mr Nutt’s spokeswoman said his office had not asked Goulburn branch to furnish electoral donation material relating to Ms Goward’s 2011 campaign.
“There was one assertion made and that has proven to be false,” she said.
The spokeswoman declined to give further details.
Mr Pearce confirmed there had been no contact from state executive about donations.
“But I am aware of comments by some persons about donations,” he stated.
“My information is that all matters of campaign funding have been on the public record and no issues exist.”
Mr Nutt’s office said all profits from Friday’s $50/head fundraiser would go to Ms Goward’s campaign.
All donors had to sign documents affirming that they were not prohibited donors.