Last-minute contender emerges for Liberal leadership showdown

Crewther is also considered an ally of conservative MPs.

A moderate Liberal, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss party matters, suggested that Battin would be unhappy with Crewther’s 11th-hour candidacy.

“It’s now clear that Brad Battin’s backers are divided,” the source said. “Jess Wilson remains the only leadership candidate that can lead a united team.”

The party room meeting is scheduled for 10am. If the party room votes in favour of a spill, Pesutto is expected to stand down as leader.

Should the spill motion be successful, the leadership vote will become an elimination-style showdown, with the candidate receiving the fewest votes out of the race first, followed by another round of voting. Under this scenario, Crewther is widely expected to be eliminated first.

An email from Pesutto to the party on Tuesday informing his colleagues he would allow members to vote remotely prompted speculation that absent MPs Nick McGowan and Cindy McLeish, who are overseas on holidays, would provide crucial votes to prevent the spill or vote for Wilson in the event of a successful motion.

That email drew the ire of former Pesutto ally and Brighton MP James Newbury, who publicly accused the opposition leader of breaching the party’s constitution, triggering an intervention from state Liberal director Stuart Smith.

Loading

Smith’s intervention will mean three votes will be put to the party room on Friday: whether the absent MPs can vote remotely; if exiled MP Moira Deeming should be readmitted to the party room; and a challenge to the leadership.

If Deeming is readmitted to the party, there is nothing to stop her from entering the meeting and casting her vote on the leadership challenge.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.