http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/11/liberal-and-national-merger-over-the-falls-again/ Ambit Gambit Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:31:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/11/liberal-and-national-merger-over-the-falls-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2360 Steve Tue, 13 May 2008 20:13:50 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3041#comment-2360 If George Brandis is such a vote winner, why does he not vacate his senate seat to run for a Labor held House of Reps seat? Simple answer is he would lose. If George Brandis is such a vote winner, why does he not vacate his senate seat to run for a Labor held House of Reps seat? Simple answer is he would lose.

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/11/liberal-and-national-merger-over-the-falls-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2361 Doug Mon, 12 May 2008 11:20:56 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3041#comment-2361 Some comments: - In essence the merger is a reverse takeover. The National Party will disband their party and join the Liberal Party, the Liberal Party's constitution will then be amended to reflect a new constitution to be agreed by the parties. - The Nationals' 9000 members and 17 MPs will dominate all organisational and parliamentary decision-making, compared to the Liberals' 5000 members and 8 MPs. - There are 5 regional chairs for the South East: Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North Central and South, and Gold Coast. The represent a disproportionate number of Federal seats. - All elected reps have guaranteed preselection for one election cycle. - Under the new model there is only one president and one Vice-President (I can therefore see why the Libs' VPs are squealing). - The timetable is State Convention will debate a motion on 30 May weekend, a plebiscite of Liberal members will be completed by the end of June and then a Constitutional Convention will be held by both parties on the weekend of 26/27 July. - The most hilarious part of this cooked up shambles is that the draft constitution must be finalised by 15 May (the last date for circulation under the Nats rules for a Constitutional Convention on that date) and had not been commenced as at the date of the State Council meeting. This is going to end in tears. Some comments:
- In essence the merger is a reverse takeover. The National Party will disband their party and join the Liberal Party, the Liberal Party’s constitution will then be amended to reflect a new constitution to be agreed by the parties.
- The Nationals’ 9000 members and 17 MPs will dominate all organisational and parliamentary decision-making, compared to the Liberals’ 5000 members and 8 MPs.
- There are 5 regional chairs for the South East: Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North Central and South, and Gold Coast. The represent a disproportionate number of Federal seats.
- All elected reps have guaranteed preselection for one election cycle.
- Under the new model there is only one president and one Vice-President (I can therefore see why the Libs’ VPs are squealing).
- The timetable is State Convention will debate a motion on 30 May weekend, a plebiscite of Liberal members will be completed by the end of June and then a Constitutional Convention will be held by both parties on the weekend of 26/27 July.
- The most hilarious part of this cooked up shambles is that the draft constitution must be finalised by 15 May (the last date for circulation under the Nats rules for a Constitutional Convention on that date) and had not been commenced as at the date of the State Council meeting.
This is going to end in tears.

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