Cormann influence remains in Liberal ranks

While former federal finance minister Mathias Cormann is adapting to the challenges of his new job as Director General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, the Cormann influence lives on in the ranks of the Liberal Party WA.

Liberals who thought the Cormann factor in local affairs would wane after his move to France have been mistaken, based on the results of a ballot for positions in the Swan division of the party.

Mr Cormann’s wife, Perth barrister Hayley Cormann, was a surprise nominee for the ballot as a division delegate on the party’s selection committee for both the Senate and the Legislative Council tickets.

In fact, the committee will soon have to select the party’s Senate team for the federal election due in the first half of next year.

In normal times the top two positions on the party’s ticket would be assured of six-year terms in the Senate.

Sources said Mrs Cormann did not attend the Swan division general meeting on August 19 when election committee positions were decided.

But when votes were counted later at head office, she topped the ballot.

Mr Cormann and two Legislative Council members, Peter Collier and Nick Goiran, featured prominently in a leaked 700-page dossier of texts between party members which confirmed their roles as powerbrokers in party affairs.

The leaked dossier comes ahead of the release of the internal review of the party’s disastrous state election result last March which saw just two Liberals returned in the 59-seat Legislative Assembly.

Sources said Mr Goiran was present at the Swan meeting but left with supporters straight afterwards. The meeting lasted less than 30 minutes.