Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is the headline act at a Victorian Liberals fundraising dinner, which has been described as a \"rallying point\" for socially conservative party members in the state. <\/p>\n
Mr Abbott will be the guest of honour at a $65 dollar-a-head Deakin 200 Club and Victorian Business Branch fundraiser next month. <\/p>\n
A special pre-dinner drinks event for 22 people with Mr Abbott, costing $500 a ticket is nearly sold out. <\/p>\n
There has been concern in the Victorian branch about a push to recruit socially conservative people to the party. <\/p>\n
Some members fear alurch too far to the right in Victoria could damage Opposition Leader Matthew Guy's chance of seizing power from Labor at next year's poll. <\/p>\n
The event is being promoted to the more conservative elements of the Victorian branch. <\/p>\n
It is being organised by Marcus Bastiaan who has been leading the recruitment drive which has, among others, targeted socially conservative Christian groups. <\/p>\n
The dinner, at city Chinese restaurant Secret Kitchen, will raise money for federal Victorian marginal seats including Deakin. <\/p>\n
\"He [Abbott] is a rallying point for conservative Liberals in Victoria who are very disappointed with [Prime Minister Malcolm]Turnbull's performance and the damage he hasdone to the party's brand,\" one senior Liberal source said. <\/p>\n
\"The worse things are getting under Turnbull the more conservative minded people see it necessary to get re-involved in Australian politics, through the Liberal Party.\" <\/p>\n
Assistant Treasurer and Deakin MP Michael Sukkar, arising conservative figure in the federal party in Victoria,is also a guest speaker. <\/p>\n
Mr Bastiaan said they were expecting 300 people, with the money raised to go to marginal seat campaigns. <\/p>\n
\"Tony Abbott is an extremely popular figure in the Victorian division of the Liberal Party,\" Mr Bastiaan said. <\/p>\n
Mr Abbott's spokesman said it was his practice to \"support his colleagues when asked.\" <\/p>\n
Victoria was one of the worst states for Mr Abbottduring his time as leader and his performance has been blamed, in part, for the Napthine government losing office after just one term in 2014. <\/p>\n
The former PM regularly appears at fundraisers including an event for Menzies MP Kevin Andrews ahead of last year's federal election. <\/p>\n
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'Rallying point': Abbott to headline conservative Liberal fundraiser in Melbourne - The Age<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is the headline act at a Victorian Liberals fundraising dinner, which has been described as a \"rallying point\" for socially conservative party members in the state. Mr Abbott will be the guest of honour at a $65 dollar-a-head Deakin 200 Club and Victorian Business Branch fundraiser next month Continue reading