Liberal hard-right stack stoush
www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/06/1083635285149.html
www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2004/05/06/1083635285149.html (text-only version)

Liberals' new branch masters art of the stack, the stoush and the all-in brawl
By Paola Totaro, State Political Editor
May 7, 2004

The first text message arrived about 9.30pm, followed quickly by another and another. By 10.25pm, three police cars, eight officers and a police dog were on their way to Punchbowl.

"The right's starting a fight . . . there's a riot . . . the police have arrived," said the final message to an MP's mobile phone.

The venue was the Croatian Club on Punchbowl Road. The event? A meeting of the newest branch of the NSW Liberal Party.

... With the Young Liberal leadership now dominated by its new hardline right-wing president, Alex Hawke, there is also an increasing push against the moderates inside the parliamentary party. It is being led by his boss, the conservative upper house member David Clarke.

An avowed and vocal Christian, Mr Clarke is vehemently opposed to abortion, gay marriage, harm minimisation and drug law reform...

www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/07/1083911408528.html
www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2004/05/07/1083911408528.html (text-only version)

Brawlers to go, seethes Brogden
Date: May 8 2004
By Paola Totaro and Sean Nicholls
The NSW Opposition Leader, John Brogden, has ordered an inquiry into a punch-up at a Liberal Party branch meeting, warning that anyone involved in "thuggish or violent-style behaviour" will be expelled ...
[permalink][comment] - posted by Mez @ 5/12/2004 08:41:00 pm