Wagga Liberal president Colin Taggart has denied that the region’s branch is in crisis following the departure of several high-ranking members.
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Two ex-members have attributed their decision to leave, in whole or in part, to Mr Taggart’s leadership decisions.
One ex-member, who did not wish t be named, said Mr Taggart had an “obsession” with attacking Wagga-based Nationals MP Wes Fang.
The ex-member said the dispute had done more to damage the Coalition than any allegations against Mr Fang over campaigning in Wagga or a vulgar text message exchange between Mr Fang and a Liberal MP.
“He says he’s not doing it as the Wagga Liberal president, but it’s all people see in the news,” the ex-member said.
Ex-Wagga Liberal branch member David Sheldon, owner of the rural retreat Elm Cottage at Tumut, is now running as a federal independent candidate for Eden Monaro.
Mr Sheldon said Mr Taggart’s leadership was a “contributing factor” to his resignation, along with the ousting of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister and the byelection loss.
Mr Taggart acknowledged to The Daily Advertiser that his earlier “focus on personalities” had proven a “distraction” but said he had the support of party members pointing out alleged disloyalty to the Coalition from the Nationals.
“I can only speak for the many people in the branch who ring me up and who are expressing their anger at what the Nationals did; that’s who I represent,” he said.
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The Wagga branch has seen four office holders quit since the party’s byelection loss in September, and three of those have left in recent weeks.
The Wagga branch has lost its secretary, vice-president and State Electoral Conference president since the byelection.
The Daily Advertiser has been told that branch treasurer Phil Elliott has resigned, though Mr Elliott declined to comment when asked to confirm or deny his resignation.
Mr Taggart said Mr Elliott had not handed in a resignation letter, but could not rule it out in the future.
Mr Taggart agreed that some “long standing” members had quit but said some departures were due to members leaving the area or frustration of having no candidate run in the NSW general election in March.
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