Dutton pledges tax breaks, as Mundine camp declares ‘war’ over failed Liberal preselection

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The contest, in the seat held by retiring Liberal MP Paul Fletcher, pitted the party’s right-wing establishment against former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and previous treasurer Joe Hockey, who supported Kapterian. Former prime minister Tony Abbott was making calls to party members encouraging a vote for Mundine, according to three sources involved in the preselection, while deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley backed Kapterian.

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Mundine’s opponents were worried his candidacy would result in the Liberals losing the seat because his conservative views, and advocacy against the Voice to parliament, may have jarred with voters in the only Liberal seat that voted in favour of the Voice referendum question in 2023.

Mundine said in a widely distributed statement after the vote that he wished the winner all the best. But in comments to this masthead he expressed frustration about reports of “treachery” and conservative branch members doing deals with moderates to get Kapterian elected.

“I am very disappointed and I’ll be seeking clarification,” he said, as his team worked to lobby the party leadership over the result and their discontent.

A senior right faction source said: “It’s war now. The wets, the moderates, have been screwing us around for too long and we’re now starting to get leakage from the conservatives. We’ll be trying to win over branches. People who aren’t solid will be gotten rid of, we’ll be going slowly bit by bit.”

The depth of anger among Mundine’s allies threatens to create disunity in branches that will be crucial to Kapterian’s fundraising and campaigning efforts against challenger Nicolette Boele, who has campaigned for years and will be backed by teal funding machine Climate 200.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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