The Liberal National party senator Gerard Rennick is appealing against his dumping from a winnable spot on the party’s Queensland Senate ticket.
Rennick lost the number three spot on the Queensland ticket to the party treasurer, Stuart Fraser, in a tight vote of the LNP faithful last week. The Guardian understands just three votes made the difference, with Fraser receiving 134 votes to Rennick’s 131.
The close vote is one of the reasons for the appeal, along with claims of a disorganised process. Rennick did not respond to requests for comment, but a LNP source confirmed the appeal had been lodged on Tuesday.
An LNP spokesperson said the party did not comment on candidate selection processes. Under the party’s constitution any applicant can appeal against a selection vote decision to the disputes committee “on the ground of unfair treatment or grave irregularity”.
A written statement and appeal lodgement fee of $1,000 needs to be lodged within three working days of the selection vote. The disputes committee then asks the state council for a report and will make a decision on whether or not to uphold the vote. In the event it is not upheld, a fresh selection vote can be held or, in some cases, the council can select the nominee itself.
Rennick faced a challenge from the more moderate wing of the LNP which had grown increasingly uncomfortable with his statements on vaccines, climate change and Ukraine.
The Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, had backed in Rennick ahead of the vote, given he was a sitting senator. Rennick having lost the vote is being seen by some within the party as a chip in Dutton’s control of the party, which he had exerted strong influence over during his time in government, before taking over the parliamentary leadership.
Meanwhile, there were concerns Rennick would choose to spend the rest of his Senate term on the crossbench given the party’s decision to dump him from the ticket.
While Rennick is considering his appeal options, he has so far showed no indication of jumping ship, with One Nation having no winnable spots on its ticket while Malcolm Roberts remains a frontrunner and the United Australia party failing in its bid to win either a house or Senate seat at the last election.
Some allies believe Rennick, if unsuccessful in his appeal, may decide to run as an independent in the next election, which would put him in competition not only against Fraser, but also One Nation’s Roberts.
While the number three spot on a party ticket is not guaranteed, it is considered a strong chance, although at this point in the electoral cycle, the LNP remains unconvinced it would win three Senate quotas in a normal general election, with the Greens having continued to grow its vote in Queensland, along with Labor.
