AN INTERNAL Liberal Party probe has been completed over recent allegations aired in the national media that Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi was asked by Federal Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne to stand as an independent against endorsed Liberal Tony Pasin for the seat of Barker at the 2013 poll.
Following its publication in The Australian on November 1, the Liberal Party’s Barker Federal Electorate Convention submitted a formal request to the Liberal Party state executive for a probe.
Barker FEC chairman Stuart Andrew told The South Eastern Times he had received a reply from Liberal Party state president and former premier John Olsen via email on Tuesday.
“The email from Mr Olsen said a Liberal Party sub-committee had investigated the matter and had recommended no further action be taken,” Mr Andrew said.
“His email stated the Liberal Party state executive had met the previous night and endorsed the recommendation.
“The result is of no interest to me.
“I did not want it ignored.
“It was a serious allegation made by a serious person who was reporter Janet Albrechtsen in The Australian.”
Mr Gandolfi told The South Eastern Times he had not been contacted by the Liberal Party about the outcome of the November 20 meeting of the state executive and learnt about it through the media a few days later.
He said he then contacted the Liberal Party state headquarters in Adelaide.
“The state executive decided not to investigate the matter as it was unlikely to result in an outcome as it related to a discussion between two people more than four years ago,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“The request for an investigation came from party members and not from me.
“I have never disputed the statements published in The Australian.”
Mr Gandolfi also provided this newspaper with a copy of his e-mail to Liberal Party state director Sasha Meldrum which he sent a few weeks ago.
“I have taken the view that any investigation into newspaper reports that Christopher Pyne asked me to run as an independent against the 2013 Liberal candidate for Barker would not be in the best interests of the Liberal Party,” Mr Gandolfi wrote to Ms Meldrum.
“While I do not dispute the claims made in The Australian newspaper, any investigation would only act as a distraction from the state campaign and not achieve an outcome given it is based on a telephone discussion between two people more than four years ago.
“Our primary goal should be to remove Labor from office rather than focusing on an old internal Liberal Party matter.”
Mr Pyne has repeatedly denied the allegation that he tried to undermine Mr Pasin’s candidacy.
The South Eastern Times has sought a response from Mr Pyne and Mr Pasin, but none was received by press time.
