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Liberal Party members vote to privatise ABC and move Australia’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem

PM Malcolm Turnbull addresses the faithful at the Liberal Party's federal council meeting in Sydney on Saturday.

PM Malcolm Turnbull addresses the faithful at the Liberal Party's federal council meeting in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: AAP

Liberal Party members have endorsed a bid to move Australia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and to privatise the ABC, highlighting a gulf between the rank-and-file and the MPs who represent them.

More than 100 MPs and members are in Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia’s annual federal council which is expected to be the last before the next federal election.

The council endorsed a motion on Saturday moved by the Victorian division calling on the Turnbull Government to follow the US and move Australia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the conference she could understand the sentiment but declared Australia would not be moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem is a final status issue and we have maintained that position for decades,” Ms Bishop said.

However, Ms Bishop’s intervention failed to convince the majority of the members and the motion passed 43 votes to 37.

None of the motions at the federal council is binding, meaning they are unlikely to have any impact on the Government’s policies, but they provide an insight into the internal machinations of the party.

The council backed a West Australian motion to “abstain from military intervention in Syria” and voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Young Liberal bid calling for the, “full privatisation of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, except for services into regional areas”.

Like the Foreign Minister before him, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield made it clear that would not be happening.

One Liberal source highlighted the fact party members were sending a clear signal they wanted a change in direction and said it was a sign of the “ascendancy of the conservatives”.

The party’s right wing used its numbers on Friday to dump one of the four Liberal vice-presidents, Trish Worth, who is aligned with the moderates, and replace her with NSW conservative Tina McQueen.

A new religious-right, conservative force has recently taken over the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party and – along with elements of the ACT and West Australian division – is using the federal conference to flex its muscle.

Howard declares Turnbull can win

While this internal power play between the moderates and conservative simmers beneath the surface, Liberal heavyweights have used their addresses to call for unity.

Liberal president Nick Greiner told the party to put its “lazy and self-indulgent” internal fights aside and start fighting for the “soul of the nation”.

With an election due in less than 12 months time, former prime minister John Howard told members he thinks Malcolm Turnbull can win.

“I am greatly encouraged about the future of the Liberal Party,” Mr Howard said.

“I think Malcolm Turnbull can win. I think things are going better now than they have been for the last six months.”

Mr Howard – who is lauded and greatly respected by Liberal members – also backed the embattled Member for Hughes, Craig Kelly, who is facing a preselection challenge.

Mr Kelly is an outspoken conservative backbencher but could be dumped in favour of Kent Johns, who is aligned with party moderates.

If that happens, there are concerns tensions between the two factions could flare up and spill over into other preselection contests.

-ABC

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