By Daniel Hurst
Queensland's Liberal National Party has vowed to overhaul its candidate review procedures after reports of intimidation and swearing at a party hopeful.
LNP president Bruce McIver today also flagged changes to the candidate review committee's membership, following concern over the grilling endured by former Cairns candidate Paul Freebody.
An expletive-ridden recording of key LNP figures bullying and threatening Mr Freebody was leaked to The Courier-Mail last week.
In the tape of Mr Freebody's meeting with party officials discussing concerns over a business matter, LNP treasurer Barry O'Sullivan tells the candidate: “You wouldn't be the first f---ing dead body on the floor of this party where the problem has got too big, so you need to work with us and stop frightening the children.”
Mr O'Sullivan goes on to say: “You think this party is going to go out and defend you on your word alone, you're f---ing even more naive than you're presenting.”
Mr Freebody is then made to hold his hands above his head and repeat the statements “guys we need to work together to neutralise it” and “my innocence doesn't make the problem go away”.
The LNP issued a statement about the matter early this afternoon while public and media focus remained on the Queen's visit to Brisbane.
Mr McIver, who described the interview with Mr Freebody as “overly robust”, said changes would be made to the administration of the party to ensure full public confidence in the organisation.
“I have taken allegations raised about the LNP very seriously and that's why I have today directed that new procedures be developed to address the issues,” he said.
Mr McIver said all future candidates could be assured they would only be required to engage in a professional interview and assessment process.
“While the candidate recruitment process needs to be robust, the LNP will not ask any candidate unnecessary personal questions, or tolerate discrimination,” he said.
“This party represents all Queenslanders and we will continue to make sure that the LNP is known for its openness, tolerance, good manners and fair treatment of potential candidates and party members.”
Mr McIver said the LNP applicant review committee had finalised its work for the state election campaign.
He said the composition of the committee would change when nominations were opened for the next federal election, but did not specify whether Mr O'Sullivan would keep his role with the review process.
The announcement apparently follows a meeting between Mr McIver and LNP election team leader Campbell Newman.
Mr Newman has said accountability starts in the LNP's own backyard.
Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser today attacked Mr Newman for not demanding the sacking of Mr O'Sullivan, campaign director James McGrath and state director Michael O'Dwyer.
Mr McGrath and Mr O'Dwyer were this month reprimanded for commissioning dirt files on Labor MPs, with research documents compiled by a former Labor staffer reportedly including claims about politicians' sex lives and preferences, medical issues and other personal matters.
“LNP and Newman admit to standover tactics, but backroom bullies O'Sullivan, McGrath and O'Dwyer keep their jobs,” Mr Fraser wrote on Twitter this afternoon.
The heated meeting with Mr Freebody took place earlier this year, some time before an email was leaked in which the candidate reportedly wrote he hoped Prime Minister Julia Gillard “met the same fate as JFK”.
Mr Freebody was later dumped as the candidate for Cairns.
Mr O'Sullivan stressed the importance of the Cairns electorate in the tape, secretly recorded by Mr Freebody.
“You don't think I want to work for a whole year only to sit down on sit down on f---ing election night with a bottle of rum between my knees, f---ing bawling my eyes out because [we] lost it by one seat which was Cairns,” Mr O'Sullivan said.
- with Bridie Jabour