Liberal State conference: Nick Goiran will back overhaul of his party’s preselection policies

Leading Clan figure Nick Goiran will back an overhaul of his party’s preselections designed to weaken the influence of powerbrokers – but “categorically” rejected any suggestion the WA Liberals had struggled to attract high quality election candidates.

Senator Michaelia Cash – now WA’s most senior Federal MP – and WA Liberal leader David Honey also threw their support behind the introduction of plebiscite voting as they arrived for what State President Richard Wilson dubbed the “most important Conference in the history of our Party”.

Hundreds of Liberals gathered at the Pan Pacific on Saturday for the Liberal’s annual State Conference where they will debate a constitutional change that would hand every member residing in an electorate the right to vote on who is selected to represent the party in that seat.

The change was a key recommendation from a brutal review launched in the wake of the Liberals devastating 2021 State election defeat – which was followed by another poor result at the Federal election in May.

That review – authored by former state president Danielle Blain and Perth lawyer Mark Trowell QC – pinned much of the blame for the Liberal’s “near extinction” on factional warlords and the pervasive influence they wielded over preselections.

“The most damaging consequence of rule by powerbrokers has been the selection of inferior quality candidates for parliament over a long period of time, because as one submission observed “selection was based on fealty, rather than ability,” the review said.

Speaking shortly before proceedings began Mr Gorian – the most prominent remaining powerbroker following the departure from politics of ex-Finance Minister Mathias Cormann – said he supported plebiscite voting but did not accept low-quality candidates had been an issue for the Liberals.

“Absolutely not. I reject that categorically,” Mr Goiran said.

“At the end of the day, we have had excellent candidates in the past. We will continue to have excellent candidates in the future.

“The exciting thing about this particular reform is that any Western Australian who wants to join the Liberal Party and signs up to their local branch, they get to have a say as to who their local candidate is.

“That’s an exciting thing. I think it’s going to increase membership and that’s why it’s got my full support.”

The proposed reform – workshopped over 12 months by Mr Wilson – has been criticised by a group of party elders calling themselves the Liberal Reform Coalition because it does not fully implement the review recommendations.

Notably, Mr Wilson’s motion would permit non-local branch delegates to continue voting in preselections, preserving some of the influence of powerbrokers like Mr Goiran who controls dozens of southern suburb branches.

The LRC, led by former president Norman Moore and ex-leaders Mike Nahan and Bill Hassell – has proposed an amended motion that would bar non-local branch delegates and the “family and staff members of Members of Parliament” from participating in preselections.

Mr Nahan said Mr Wilson’s model represented “two steps forward with plebiscite, one step back by keeping the existing (branch) system”.

“Our major problem is the vast majority of our branches are defunct, non-existent, controlled by a small cadre of people,” Mr Nahan said.

“And it could well be the plebiscite model helps in my area (Riverton) and in Curtin but not everywhere else.

“We have more branches now when we have maybe a thousand members than in the 1980s when we had 35,000 members - it’s ridiculous.”

Ms Cash revealed her preference was for the LRC amendment to be supported – but that she would back either plebiscite model in the ultimate vote, which requires 75 per cent support as it represents a constitutional amendment.

“I’m backing reform. I’m backing the amendment,” she said.

“If it gets up, I’m backing reform. If it doesn’t get up, I am backing reform.”

Mr Honey echoed that sentiment, saying he had “enormous faith in the ordinary members of the party” and was “optimistic” the plebiscite vote would pass.

The WA Liberal leader previously told The West rank and file members would “massively dominate” the preselection vote “in any seat we could realistically win” regardless of which of the two models prevailed.

The reform motions are slated for debate between 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Saturday.