Federal Government
OUT-RAGE: Liberal fury over Loughnane’s purge
The usually highly regarded federal director of the Liberal party Brian Loughnane has ousted his Malcolm Turnbull aligned deputy James McGrath in a brutal coup described as “breathtaking†by shocked and worried party insiders today.
Mark Westfield – an ex Turnbull staffer – broke the news this morning to the shock and astonishment of Liberal marginal seat holders and candidates.
One worried Liberal talking to VEXNEWS said “What if Kevin Rudd calls the election within weeks, there won’t be a marginal seat campaign ready to do because the deputy director is in charge of that. This is a personally motivated exercise that is totally inappropriate months out from a federal elections. It’s self-indulgent and outrageous.â€
Loughnane’s supporters claim that at one stage Turnbull tried to axe both Loughnane and party President Alan Stockdale and they assert that McGrath was regarded by Loughnane as “useless.â€
They explain the curious timing by reference to Loughnane’s methodical and cautious approach and that he would not have acted until certain he could get away with it.
Westfield told the yarn well but party insiders have told VEXNEWS that there are two issues lurking in the background.
One is that McGrath – aside from being appointed at the insistence of then leader Malcolm Turnbull – is very close with Loughnane foe and party director predecessor Lynton Crosby. In a post-Abbott setting, Loughnane apparently believed that McGrath could have been a rival, boosted by Crosby who still enjoys considerable sway in Liberal circles as a campaign strategist.
The other is that there have dark mutterings from the Liberal secretariat about their financial situation. Insiders say McGrath had been pushing for economies in keeping with the great difficulties both sides of politics are having with fundraising. Loughnane – they explain – has been reluctant to cut spending and there have been arguments around money.
Insiders tell VEXNEWS it is conceivable that Loughnane would have acted without Abbott’s express authority and backing. His connection with Abbott is very close culturally, aside from the personal connection due to Loughnane’s marriage to Abbott COS Peta Credlin.
Westfield claims that one of the replacements of McGrath will be Julian Sheezel, who is claimed by his backers to have done a good job in South Australia, a view strongly disputed by those who say the Libs were out-campaigned in marginal seats by the canny SA Labor machine, turned into a superior fighting force years ago by their prodigal son campaign director David Feeney, now a Victorian Labor senator.
UPDATE: Liberal insiders tell VEXNEWS that at the heart of the disagreement between Loughnane and his slain deputy James McGrath was campaign finance. Traditionally, sufficient funds would be raised to meet “hard” campaign costs like campaign head-quarters, how-to-vote printing and the basic campaign infrastructure expenses. The TV buy – purchased on 60 day payment terms – would then be met by the millions of dollars in “public funding” from taxpayers that flow to political parties on a per vote basis.
Because fundraising has proved so difficult, Loughnane had decided to instead approach no fewer than three banks to borrow funds to meet the hard campaign costs against the future income they’d receive from public funding. McGrath was concerned that this approach would leave very little for the TV buy and potentially create a Tim Gartrell style financial blackhole.
Loughnane grew tired of the endless debates of this issue, garnered support from the leader and executed his combatant with extreme prejudice.
McGrath’s many backers made a point today of saying he was universally (other than Loughnane) regarded as a “disciplined, focused, creative, tough” campaign director who fielded very regular higher-paying offers from the corporate world but stayed with the party because he is a “true believer.”
Loughnane’s supporters this afternoon pointed to a press article that appeared shortly after McGrath’s appointment claiming that he “would run rings around” Loughnane.
“He’s had it coming,” they observed.
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Who am I?
I came 3rd in a preselection against Marie Luckins.
I set up a failed business called International Careers Pty Ltd in a tax haven.
The peak of my political career was as an adviser for the Bronwyn for PM campaign.
My only experience as a campaign manager before becoming State Director was campaign director and strategist for the losing Monash Province campaign in 2002.
My closest political associate is Santo Santoro.
I lost two state elections and a brace of Federal seats.
I gave my old company the contract for Robert Doyle’s Eastlink costings, but gave the wrong assumptions for them to model, leading to a political disaster.
I deliberately sabotaged the Prahran campaign, removing central funding for factional reasons.
I was part of the losing team for the last Federal election.
I gave the IT contract for 104 to a company that Dan Feldman is a director of, without going to tender. Dan Feldman subsequently had to leave his law firm.
I leased part of 104 Exhibition Street – a direct legacy of Robert Menzies – to Tolarno Galleries, who displayed Bill Henson’s child porn in the Liberal Party’s own building.
I corruptly breached the Electoral Act, using the threat of pulling the party polling contract to get two people fired.
I asked staff to blog against the State Leader, then when it came out, I knifed them as publicly as I could to try and rat out of it.
When the blog affair came out, I denied even knowing about the blog – lying to Ted Baillieu, Tony Nutt, David Kemp, the media and the party. In actuality, I had been bragging about the blog I had tacitly authorised for months – including in December to Don Nardella MP, who has since put the facts on the record in parliament. http://www.theage.com.au/national/liberal-chief-under-pressure-over-blog-20080528-2j3u.html
I undertook a secret deal with DPA Document Printing Australia Pty Ltd to re-employ Chandler for the Liberal Party, in a cruel hoax on the Party and the Jewish community.
I left 104 Exhibition Street in a burning wreck, having lost both the State and Federal Campaign managers in a fortnight of the worst media coverage in the Party’s history.
I tarnished the reputation of the Higgins 200 Club by associating it with donations from the aged care industry extracted by Santo Santoro.
Both my first and second wives are better at politics than me.
I was been unemployed for over a year after leaving 104 in disgrace.
I tell people I am an “accountant/ corporate accountant†despite no longer holding proper professional registrations to do such work.
I was dis-endorsed by Peter Costello, once he realised that the allegations of improper conduct made against me were, in fact, accurate.
After being unemployed for 15 months, I got a gig running the unlosable South Australian election – and promptly lost it.
I am not, nor will I ever be, very popular amongst the branch members in Higgins.
I am thinking about heading back to Queensland, where Santo might be able to get me a seat.
I cooked up a plan with Brian Loughnane to sack the only good marginal seat campaigner in Federal Secretariat, so that I could get a job, now that I have left South Australia as a burning wreck.
Who am I?
I came 3rd in a preselection against Marie Luckins.
I set up a failed business called International Careers Pty Ltd in a tax haven.
The peak of my political career was as an adviser for the Bronwyn for PM campaign.
My only experience as a campaign manager before becoming State Director was campaign director and strategist for the losing Monash Province campaign in 2002.
My closest political associate is Santo Santoro.
I lost two state elections and a brace of Federal seats.
I gave my old company the contract for Robert Doyle’s Eastlink costings, but gave the wrong assumptions for them to model, leading to a political disaster.
I deliberately sabotaged the Prahran campaign, removing central funding for factional reasons.
I was part of the losing team for the last Federal election.
I gave the IT contract for 104 to a company that Dan Feldman is a director of, without going to tender. Dan Feldman subsequently had to leave his law firm.
I leased part of 104 Exhibition Street – a direct legacy of Robert Menzies – to Tolarno Galleries, who displayed Bill Henson’s child porn in the Liberal Party’s own building.
I corruptly breached the Electoral Act, using the threat of pulling the party polling contract to get two people fired.
I asked staff to blog against the State Leader, then when it came out, I knifed them as publicly as I could to try and rat out of it.
When the blog affair came out, I denied even knowing about the blog – lying to Ted Baillieu, Tony Nutt, David Kemp, the media and the party. In actuality, I had been bragging about the blog I had tacitly authorised for months – including in December to Don Nardella MP, who has since put the facts on the record in parliament. http://www.theage.com.au/national/liberal-chief-under-pressure-over-blog-20080528-2j3u.html
I undertook a secret deal with DPA Document Printing Australia Pty Ltd to re-employ Chandler for the Liberal Party, in a cruel hoax on the Party and the Jewish community.
I left 104 Exhibition Street in a burning wreck, having lost both the State and Federal Campaign managers in a fortnight of the worst media coverage in the Party’s history.
I tarnished the reputation of the Higgins 200 Club by associating it with donations from the aged care industry extracted by Santo Santoro.
Both my first and second wives are better at politics than me.
I was been unemployed for over a year after leaving 104 in disgrace.
I tell people I am an “accountant/ corporate accountant†despite no longer holding proper professional registrations to do such work.
I was dis-endorsed by Peter Costello, once he realised that the allegations of improper conduct made against me were, in fact, accurate.
After being unemployed for 15 months, I got a gig running the unlosable South Australian election – and promptly lost it.
I am not, nor will I ever be, very popular amongst the branch members in Higgins.
I am not, nor will I ever be, employed by the Federal Secretariat.
I am thinking about heading back to Queensland, where Santo might be able to get me a seat.
Wow, This makes Tim Gartrell look like Mother Theresa.
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Has it ever occurred to Loughnane that the reason everyone thinks he’s fuckin useless … is because he is?
my daddy told me that we need people running our party that take the bible to be the literal word of God – personally I am waiting to see if tony crashes and burns – makes my move into Federal politics very easy – like father, like son!
mcgrath was an idiot – good riddance
Surely having someone keeping an eye on the money on a campaign is a good thing, not a sackable offence?
Sounds like something Hawke would do
So we’ve fired a hardened marginal seat campaigner, James McGrath.
Then we are replacing him with the guy who was comprehensively outcampiagned in every marginal seat in South Australia?
Have I missed something?
Nothing better than a good purge now and then.
Btw I still love you Wendy.
…highly regarded…Brian Loughnane…
Are serious???? the guy is a fucking idiot
With any sort of luck the whole party will implode into the ether never to be seen again. They have never been Liberal with anything but the truth.
The two SA marginals Light and Mawson, that got swings to them were Left run campaigns. What on earth has that fine patriot Senator Feeney been up to? Everyother seat had massive swings against the ALP.
I am very disappointed that Tony Abbott approved this. He has lost my support. That’s what happens when you let the wife of the federal director become COS on the leader’s office — objectivity & the need for check and balance is lost.
Very disappointed that Abbott bought into this.
Loughnan is a wanker. He organises failed campaigns and is an ignorant little turd and a nervous Nelly too.
Do not know anything about James McGrath so I cant comment on him.
What Brian need is for Basil Faulty to visit him with the big gnome with the curved pointy hat and then thrust it up the bog Irishman bum.
Time for Brian to go and as for Weasel Sheezel you have to be jocking; the Libs lost the SA election remember.
I am glad to be out of party politics – 9 wasted years with the exception of the great work done by Jeff Kennett but Brian had nothing to do with that.
My advise to any Aussie; do not joining any political party and lets see then whither on the vine
Oh well, looks like it’s back to WorkChoices then.
Brian’s removal of McGrath speaks volumes for his lack of judgement.
It is now time for Brian to get the axe, if the party is serious about winning the next election.
Regarding Master Clam Man’s comments – if you enjoy a good purge, then hold on to your smalls until after the next federal election. I’m sure you’ll witness a complete purge after Mr Abbott has been dumped and Mr Robb or some other character takes over running the opposition for another term or two.
I have to wonder if this had more than just to do with Brian’s differences with McGrath. How happy was Peta Credlin with McGrath?
He must be being paid well to particularly if “wiffie” is employed by the party/public service as well. What is her name anyone? A few years ago he was sniffing around at an auction in Richardson St, Middle Park (a block from my house). He did not buy the double fronted single storey home so perhaps even Middle Park is out of his price range. Only $2 million was needed for the house which is very like mine; a mere former Liberal branch president.
Dear fat arse wendy, you and me babe, how about it?
I cannot characterise Brian’s decision as one that is in the best interests of the party, or one that reflects the kind of judgement that a federal director should have.
Seems as if BL was afraid of having someone who really was competent at long last. BL behaved like a shortsighted dill and he cared not at all for the consequences for the party.
Deadwood needs to go & the party needs to re-visit the wisdom of having a federal director’s partner working in the leader’s office.
Was McGrath the man who was kicked out of a hotel during the Young Lib state conference for having a very loud nude party in his room and missing his morning plane? Why would any serious political party want a person like that on their payroll in a senior position?
Relax a bit peoples. While Loughnane may have proven yet again, that he aint quite up to the job, fortunately his position is not one for an eternity…
The lesson here is for Tony Abbott. It should be an obvious one now that doesn’t need spelling out.
What’s that they say again about, “If you can’t run yourselves, how can you run the country?”
If I were the PM, I’d be taking full advantage. Once McGrath leaves for the UK (assuming a conservative win), I’d be calling an election at the earliest date possible.
What a foolish thing to have done.
After Abbott’s comments on the dole today, we should all remember that the Libs have all been touched with the f*ckwit wand.
Clam Man, 21 Apr): I would like to see Brian pulling a coal carrier on his knees like a pit boy
he can get a job in the west they are crying out for labour no skill required so the mad monk says and he will also get rid of unemployment benefits if elected
it is possible that McGrath was the dud, a plant by Turnbull, not exceptional at his job, had loose lips, had tried to purge Stockdale and Loughnane earlier and had earnt no loyalty. and TA’s comments on the dole rocks
Brian is a passenger. He has been on the party teat for far too long. A free rider this bloke. He was the brilliant John Moore’s chief of staff – need I say anything more than that. His wife (Credlin) is of course now known as the “cockroach”. She is a lawyer who never practised law and has been an apparatchik (except for a short stint in the racing industry) since 1998 (Kay Patterson’s electorate secretary). She is not nice. She has not an ounce of loyalty to colleagues or leaders. The Liberal Party should purge these two ASAP.
attacking Brian and his wife is just low. Brian’s career included taking a key role in the East Timor liberation in Moore’s office and helping to win majoritites in Commonwealth upper and lower houses in 2004. You have to respect that more that a minor role in Boris Johnson’s municipal victory.
RE: 12:55
That’s a massively big and dumb call. Have you opened a history or politics book about the country lately? Firstly, they call it Timor Leste now. Secondly, nowhere is BL’s role or name mentioned in any history or politics book regarding the liberation of the former East Timor, now Timor Leste. Enough of the sillyness, ignorance and exaggeration please.
Liking sycophants less.
East Timor East Timor East Timor
Well, at least the Liberal Party isnt ageist in its membership restrictions: 5 year olds can also join??
Mummy, some anonymous arsehole is picking on me!
Loughnane has not won anything – he is a mill-stone and as for Sheazel – if Libs had been directed by a competent Director in South Australia the Libs would have won.
They are both in the Kroger camp which is now quickly killing the real Liberal Party by their choice of in-competent “yes Michael” methods of operation. The Liberals need strong fearless free Menzian thinkers.
“A key role in East Timor’s liberation… spells like a five yr old
Adrian Jackson says:-
“I am glad to be out of party politics”.
So am I! Glad YOU’RE out of Party Politics, Adrian. Nothing but a self serving, disgruntled loner, who wouldn’t know the meaning of the word T E A M. You know, Adrian, the word without the “I” in it?
Cheers,
Observer.
Observer (23 Apr 10) want a tragic you are; not even man (or woman) enough to put your name to your comment. You are worthless just like most party politicians and MP’s – Rudd, Turnbull, Loughnane, Sleezel, Foley, Danby, Shardey etc all useless, ignorant and incompetent self servers
A check of Loughnane’s CV on the Liberal website tells us he was involved in IR at Shell in Geelong. Being an oil man it is no wonder he was a supporter of the “Coalition of the Killing” in Iraq. All that privatized oil to exploit – greed, money, blood, money, baby killers, money.
I’m sure Brian could a say a lot about the crap he had to put up with from Nutt, Howard, Briggs and co. during the 2007 campaign. Of course Brian has too much grace and class to do this. Those who are quick to criticise Brian (Julie Bishop and Sophie Panopoulos you’re performance in shadow cabinet yesterday was nothing short of disgraceful) should do well to remember that if he had not been there in 2007, the loss would have been a great deal worse.