Thoughts on alleged branch stacking in the Condamine:
As per The Chronicle June 25:
Pat Weir under threat as rumours circle of a preselection challenge
Members of the Liberal-National Party believe a regional Queensland MP could face a fight for his seat after a drive in branch membership.
Queensland Speaker Pat Weir could face a fight to retain his seat of Condamine, after branch members revealed an unprecedented surge in membership.
About a dozen members of the regional LNP branch believe a membership drive in the seat could see Mr Weir challenged during preselection ahead of the 2028 state election.
Mr Weir, first elected in 2015 to the massive seat surrounding Toowoomba and stretching to east of Dalby, secured 60 per cent of the first preference result at the 2024 state election.
He was named parliamentary speaker following the massive win and has avoided the controversies or retirement rumours that usually plague preselection battles.
Rates of new LNP memberships have skyrocketed in Queensland’s second-safest conservative seat over the past 12 months.
A prominent LNP member, who knows the numbers and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said as many as 85 per cent of new memberships across southwest Queensland have come from Condamine over the past year.
Members told News Corp Australia that the branch has about 275 members, and about 100 applications arrived in the past year.
It is believed there have been 30 in the past month alone.
The state LNP branch was approached for comment.
One long-term branch member questioned the sudden surge.
“It is not the Australian way to do things,” they said.
“It is not my cup of tea and while there are certain people who thrive on this sort of thing, at the end it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
According to rumours among the party, councillor Tim McMahon had been raised as a potential challenger.
Mr McMahon, however, shot down the gossip, and said he had no intention to run.
“I get asked weekly whether I will make the jump and at present, I’ve got a very full and busy life with four children and I’m home from city hall within seven minutes,” Mr McMahon said.
“If the opportunity presented itself like a state member retired, I would consider it, but at this current time I don’t have any plans, especially when sitting MPs are there.
“All our state and federal members are doing a great job, and I don’t have any reason to criticise them.”
Pat Weir said under no circumstances would he walk away from the seat.
“It is my intention to recontest the seat,” he said.
“After 10 years in the opposition, to finally be in government … I want positive change in the Condamine.
“It is the right of anybody to stand for preselection and I definitely will be one of them.
“I believe my record stands for itself – working with TMR for better roads, the Condamine Alluvium bill.
“With the growth of Toowoomba with the industrial precinct we need houses and workers, to facilitate the growth. Securing water is also a challenge.”
LNP regional vice-president Peter Wilson, who lives in the Condamine electorate at Wyreema, would not comment on the matter other than to praise Mr Weir’s performance as an MP.
“Pat is doing a cracking job as the local member and as the speaker of the house — he engages really well with the towns and villages across the seat,” he said.
“I don’t get involved, I just look at the job he’s doing, (and) as a government, you can’t afford to be distracted.”
Federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton said the unusual membership growth resulted from renewed efforts to build the party’s base in the face of a threat from One Nation.
“I’m very proud of the growth of our membership, it’s been very strong,” he said.
“We’re getting young people, more women and professionals.
“Pat and every one of our representatives has mine and the membership’s support.”