http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/09/03/mp-threatens-to-quit/

PETER Slipper has threatened to quit the LNP if the party's Fisher branch today does not elect the executive he wants.

In a letter to LNP members sent late yesterday, Mr Slipper warned that would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament.

Mr Slipper is under threat of losing pre-selection for the seat with mounting pressure on the party at both state and federal level for it to distance itself from him because of his extravagant use of his MP expense account.

More than 2700 Sunshine Coast residents have signed a petition calling for a full audit of that account for the past 10 years.

In the letter to members, Mr Slipper said today's annual general meeting to elect the Fisher FDC executive was being run as a defacto pre-selection campaign.

He made it clear that if former Howard minister Mal Brough was elected as chairman over his preferred choice of Dr Greg Robinson he would leave the party.

“If the coup is successful, my position as a parliamentary member of the LNP becomes untenable,'' Mr Slipper wrote.

“This would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament where every vote counts.''

Mr Slipper nominated Graeme Mickelburg as his preferred vice chairman and James Ashby as secretary.

Mr Brough, who has already indicated he will stand against Mr Slipper for pre-selection and who is a member of the party's fastest growing branch at Kawana, was not returning phone calls yesterday.

There was no response from Mr Slipper last night to questions put by the Sunshine Coast Daily about the letter to party members.

However, party sources said they had been shocked by the threat to the party's current strong federal position.

Before the last federal election Sunshine Coast LNP representatives called on the LNP state executive to withdraw support for Mr Slipper.

When that was refused, polling booth captains for the party were successful in having how-to-vote pamphlets scrapped that featured Mr Slipper in favour of ones that made a photo of Tony Abbott the dominant feature.

More recently LNP Nicklin candidate John Connolly has reported that the issue of Mr Slipper's expenditure habits was impacting negatively on his door-knocking ahead of the state election.

freediver wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 1:34pm:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/09/03/mp-threatens-to-quit/ PETER Slipper has threatened to quit the LNP if the party's Fisher branch today does not elect the executive he wants. In a letter to LNP members sent late yesterday, Mr Slipper warned that would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament. Mr Slipper is under threat of losing pre-selection for the seat with mounting pressure on the party at both state and federal level for it to distance itself from him because of his extravagant use of his MP expense account. More than 2700 Sunshine Coast residents have signed a petition calling for a full audit of that account for the past 10 years. In the letter to members, Mr Slipper said today's annual general meeting to elect the Fisher FDC executive was being run as a defacto pre-selection campaign. He made it clear that if former Howard minister Mal Brough was elected as chairman over his preferred choice of Dr Greg Robinson he would leave the party. “If the coup is successful, my position as a parliamentary member of the LNP becomes untenable,'' Mr Slipper wrote. “This would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament where every vote counts.'' Mr Slipper nominated Graeme Mickelburg as his preferred vice chairman and James Ashby as secretary. Mr Brough, who has already indicated he will stand against Mr Slipper for pre-selection and who is a member of the party's fastest growing branch at Kawana, was not returning phone calls yesterday. There was no response from Mr Slipper last night to questions put by the Sunshine Coast Daily about the letter to party members. However, party sources said they had been shocked by the threat to the party's current strong federal position. Before the last federal election Sunshine Coast LNP representatives called on the LNP state executive to withdraw support for Mr Slipper. When that was refused, polling booth captains for the party were successful in having how-to-vote pamphlets scrapped that featured Mr Slipper in favour of ones that made a photo of Tony Abbott the dominant feature. More recently LNP Nicklin candidate John Connolly has reported that the issue of Mr Slipper's expenditure habits was impacting negatively on his door-knocking ahead of the state election.

well thats Slipper's preselection hopes gone! IMagine threatinng to vote for the other side? what kind of ploy is that? Slipper might be the unlikely support Gillard needs if Thomson is foreced out - as is likely, but it only forestalls the inevitable. And the advantage to the Coalition is that this hung parliament is clearly pointing out some disloyal and weak members that need disendorsing.

What is it with QLD anyhow? this kind of crap ALWAYS seems to come from there!

well thats Slipper's preselection hopes gone! IMagine threatinng to vote for the other side? what kind of ploy is that? Slipper might be the unlikely support Gillard needs if Thomson is foreced out
As I told you all last week, Slipper had already lost pres election for the next election and that is the reason he will take the speakers job to keep Abbott out of Government, if need be. ;D ;D OH did I mention, I TOLD YOU SO?? ;D ;D

Well another naughty monkey, whodda rhunk it  ;D ;D

freediver wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 1:34pm:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/09/03/mp-threatens-to-quit/ PETER Slipper has threatened to quit the LNP if the party's Fisher branch today does not elect the executive he wants. In a letter to LNP members sent late yesterday, Mr Slipper warned that would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament. Mr Slipper is under threat of losing pre-selection for the seat with mounting pressure on the party at both state and federal level for it to distance itself from him because of his extravagant use of his MP expense account. More than 2700 Sunshine Coast residents have signed a petition calling for a full audit of that account for the past 10 years. In the letter to members, Mr Slipper said today's annual general meeting to elect the Fisher FDC executive was being run as a defacto pre-selection campaign. He made it clear that if former Howard minister Mal Brough was elected as chairman over his preferred choice of Dr Greg Robinson he would leave the party. “If the coup is successful, my position as a parliamentary member of the LNP becomes untenable,'' Mr Slipper wrote. “This would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament where every vote counts.'' Mr Slipper nominated Graeme Mickelburg as his preferred vice chairman and James Ashby as secretary. Mr Brough, who has already indicated he will stand against Mr Slipper for pre-selection and who is a member of the party's fastest growing branch at Kawana, was not returning phone calls yesterday. There was no response from Mr Slipper last night to questions put by the Sunshine Coast Daily about the letter to party members. However, party sources said they had been shocked by the threat to the party's current strong federal position. Before the last federal election Sunshine Coast LNP representatives called on the LNP state executive to withdraw support for Mr Slipper. When that was refused, polling booth captains for the party were successful in having how-to-vote pamphlets scrapped that featured Mr Slipper in favour of ones that made a photo of Tony Abbott the dominant feature. More recently LNP Nicklin candidate John Connolly has reported that the issue of Mr Slipper's expenditure habits was impacting negatively on his door-knocking ahead of the state election.

If something happens here that is bad for the Libs I hope they tone it down a little.

azulene wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 4:30pm:

freediver wrote on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 1:34pm: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/09/03/mp-threatens-to-quit/ PETER Slipper has threatened to quit the LNP if the party's Fisher branch today does not elect the executive he wants. In a letter to LNP members sent late yesterday, Mr Slipper warned that would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament. Mr Slipper is under threat of losing pre-selection for the seat with mounting pressure on the party at both state and federal level for it to distance itself from him because of his extravagant use of his MP expense account. More than 2700 Sunshine Coast residents have signed a petition calling for a full audit of that account for the past 10 years. In the letter to members, Mr Slipper said today's annual general meeting to elect the Fisher FDC executive was being run as a defacto pre-selection campaign. He made it clear that if former Howard minister Mal Brough was elected as chairman over his preferred choice of Dr Greg Robinson he would leave the party. “If the coup is successful, my position as a parliamentary member of the LNP becomes untenable,'' Mr Slipper wrote. “This would not be helpful to the Coalition in a hung parliament where every vote counts.'' Mr Slipper nominated Graeme Mickelburg as his preferred vice chairman and James Ashby as secretary. Mr Brough, who has already indicated he will stand against Mr Slipper for pre-selection and who is a member of the party's fastest growing branch at Kawana, was not returning phone calls yesterday. There was no response from Mr Slipper last night to questions put by the Sunshine Coast Daily about the letter to party members. However, party sources said they had been shocked by the threat to the party's current strong federal position. Before the last federal election Sunshine Coast LNP representatives called on the LNP state executive to withdraw support for Mr Slipper. When that was refused, polling booth captains for the party were successful in having how-to-vote pamphlets scrapped that featured Mr Slipper in favour of ones that made a photo of Tony Abbott the dominant feature. More recently LNP Nicklin candidate John Connolly has reported that the issue of Mr Slipper's expenditure habits was impacting negatively on his door-knocking ahead of the state election. If something happens here that is bad for the Libs I hope they tone it down a little.

now this is how liberals deal with errant members in its ranks. Slipper has been loose with his spending and is about to get dumped.  Labor however, not only chooses candidates that embezzle but support them when they are caught out.

This explains the parade of MPs going to jail.

[highlight]This explains the parade of MPs going to jail.[/highlightSilly old fart neglects to add THE ONLY member of parliament facing trial is a LIBERAL ;D ;D ;D

He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win

adelcrow wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 5:16pm:

He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win

do you really think people will vote for someone who is as shallow as this person appears to be..mind you he is a one man band by the sound of things.. and should never have been allowed to join a party by the sound of him.. another Wilkie... if you dont do what I WANT THEN I AM NOT PLAYING>.great we need people like that in govt...I dont think!

adelcrow wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 5:16pm:

He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win

I will take a bet with as much as you can muster on that, crow.  Slipper is totally phucked among the Sunshine Coast LNP, and generally in the Community here.

Name your bet!

;)

adelcrow wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 5:16pm:

He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win

yes I can just image a Coalition MP being relected as an independant who:
1) has misused his electoral allowance
2) threatened to deny govt to his own party
3) acted like a spoiled brat

About the same chances as Oakeshott has of re-election!

adelcrow wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2011 at 5:16pm:

He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win

It all comes down to where the preferences lie, and if he crosses the floor before the election if current polling continues, he will be dead in the water.

Verge wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 8:45am:

adelcrow wrote on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 5:16pm: He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win It all comes down to where the preferences lie, and if he crosses the floor before the election if current polling continues, he will be dead in the water.

you know we are in one mighty big poo right now... and it all comes down to those PREFERENCES>>

do you think out of all this mess people will start to wake up.. to what their one little vote can doooooooooooooo?

we are in a mess and its all the fault of the VOTER.. surely there has to be a way to stop someone who gets the least primary votes.. ending up getting into power on second best... surely if they rate so low on primary they dont deserve to get any preferences..

seems to me an awful lot rides on second choice now..

cods wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 10:25am:

Verge wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 8:45am: adelcrow wrote on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 5:16pm: He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win It all comes down to where the preferences lie, and if he crosses the floor before the election if current polling continues, he will be dead in the water. you know we are in one mighty big poo right now... and it all comes down to those PREFERENCES>> do you think out of all this mess people will start to wake up.. to what their one little vote can doooooooooooooo? we are in a mess and its all the fault of the VOTER.. surely there has to be a way to stop someone who gets the least primary votes.. ending up getting into power on second best... surely if they rate so low on primary they dont deserve to get any preferences.. seems to me an awful lot rides on second choice now..

I have said it before, but primary votes should be the goal and if 1st and 2nd are within a margin of say 5% of each other, then preferences should kick in then and only then.

progressiveslol wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 10:38am:

cods wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 10:25am: Verge wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 8:45am: adelcrow wrote on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 5:16pm: He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win It all comes down to where the preferences lie, and if he crosses the floor before the election if current polling continues, he will be dead in the water. you know we are in one mighty big poo right now... and it all comes down to those PREFERENCES>> do you think out of all this mess people will start to wake up.. to what their one little vote can doooooooooooooo? we are in a mess and its all the fault of the VOTER.. surely there has to be a way to stop someone who gets the least primary votes.. ending up getting into power on second best... surely if they rate so low on primary they dont deserve to get any preferences.. seems to me an awful lot rides on second choice now.. I have said it before, but primary votes should be the goal and if 1st and 2nd are within a margin of say 5% of each other, then preferences should kick in then and only then.

I generally think preferences are fine. Where I object is when the system allows someone with 49% of the vote to be defeated by someone with 35% (or less). That seems very wrong and the real problem is that it treats a second preference as equal to the primary vote. The vast majority of people vote for one candidate - not several. Optional preferential voting helps this problem. But I would agree with you that if the margin (on primary votes) between first and second exceeds 8% say then preferences should not be distributed.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 11:29am:

progressiveslol wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 10:38am: cods wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 10:25am: Verge wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 8:45am: adelcrow wrote on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 5:16pm: He'll run as an independent at the next election and easily win It all comes down to where the preferences lie, and if he crosses the floor before the election if current polling continues, he will be dead in the water. you know we are in one mighty big poo right now... and it all comes down to those PREFERENCES>> do you think out of all this mess people will start to wake up.. to what their one little vote can doooooooooooooo? we are in a mess and its all the fault of the VOTER.. surely there has to be a way to stop someone who gets the least primary votes.. ending up getting into power on second best... surely if they rate so low on primary they dont deserve to get any preferences.. seems to me an awful lot rides on second choice now.. I have said it before, but primary votes should be the goal and if 1st and 2nd are within a margin of say 5% of each other, then preferences should kick in then and only then. I generally think preferences are fine. Where I object is when the system allows someone with 49% of the vote to be defeated by someone with 35% (or less). That seems very wrong and the real problem is that it treats a second preference as equal to the primary vote. The vast majority of people vote for one candidate - not several. Optional preferential voting helps this problem. But I would agree with you that if the margin (on primary votes) between first and second exceeds 8% say then preferences should not be distributed.

when we have a system that allows someone with the least to beat someone with the most... then its flawed..

its like the guy that won gold in the speed skating...he has never done a thing since..not picking on him of course.. well done to him.. but the best guys fell over..so it doesnt mean he was the best... and thats what govt should be all about... the best ones get in.. I get freaking mad when I think we are paying the likes of Wilkie..to pontificate about a basic non event..whilst doing stuff all about something like the asylum seekers policy.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 11:29am:

I generally think preferences are fine. Where I object is when the system allows someone with 49% of the vote to be defeated by someone with 35% (or less). That seems very wrong and the real problem is that it treats a second preference as equal to the primary vote. The vast majority of people vote for one candidate - not several. Optional preferential voting helps this problem. But I would agree with you that if the margin (on primary votes) between first and second exceeds 8% say then preferences should not be distributed.

Where your logic goes wrong, Longy, is that elections are not so much about which pollie/s win or lose a political ballot - rather in whom the majority of electors most place their respect and trust!

It is not about the desire or deservedness of pollies to win - it is about their role as democratic representatives entrusted to advance the best overall interests of the electorate!

Equitist wrote on Sep 5^th, 2011 at 11:48am:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 5th, 2011 at 11:29am: I generally think preferences are fine. Where I object is when the system allows someone with 49% of the vote to be defeated by someone with 35% (or less). That seems very wrong and the real problem is that it treats a second preference as equal to the primary vote. The vast majority of people vote for one candidate - not several. Optional preferential voting helps this problem. But I would agree with you that if the margin (on primary votes) between first and second exceeds 8% say then preferences should not be distributed. Where your logic goes wrong, Longy, is that elections are not so much about which pollie/s win or lose a political ballot - rather in whom the majority of electors most place their respect and trust! It is not about the desire or deservedness of pollies to win - it is about their role as democratic representatives entrusted to advance the best overall interests of the electorate!

IM sure you were really really trying to make a valid point, but bugger if I can find it. Although I did see your stalinist side when you said 'elections werent about actually winning'.