It’s an odd day for Liberal Party leaks. A while ago it was revealed that Liberal Party honorary treasurer Phil Higginson had a letter leaked to the media that detailed his objections concerning Prime Minister Tony Abbott‘s highly controversial chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
The letter detailed that Higginson raised concerns over what he saw as a conflict of interest in allowing Credlin to hold the Chief of Staff role, whilst her husband – Brian Loughnane – served as the party’s Administrative Federal Director, a pair of positions that, at least accordingly to Higginson, means that virtually the entire operations of the party were controlled by a single married couple.
But Higginson’s vendetta against Credlin apparently isn’t simply confined to formal outlets. ABC‘s Four Corners has apparently obtained text messages sent by Higginson that continue his attacks against one of the Government’s most powerful non-elected officials, at one point referring to her as the “Horsewoman of the Apocalypse.”
“I’m refusing to sign the 2013/14 accounts … it has brought … the Horsewoman of the Apocalypse out of her den as you can imagine. Black robes flowing. Stay tuned for the hatchet job on me … it’s hurting me just mainly watching the party suicide.“
“I do hope you can negotiate the removal of Credlin. That would be a huge win in itself.“
The texts, according the ABC and Fairfax Media, were sent to a “senior Liberal party official” in late 2014.
Liberal MPs have, in the past, not been shy about expressing their concerns about Credlin, who they feel wields far too much power in the Prime Minister’s Office, and has in the past moved to personally block alternate sources of advice from actually reaching Prime Minister Abbott.
But despite this, and at times coming into direct conflict with her, Julie Bishop defended Credlin when asked about the comments this morning.
“It’s very colourful language, [and] it’s deeply unfortunate it has been said and been made public. The less the internal workings of the Liberal Party are made public, the better off for everybody.”
Whether you like Credlin or not, the fact remains largely that – at best – this represents some fairly unprofessional language and behaviour from a senior Liberal Party official. But the ethical questions over the leaking of text messages also loom large.
Politics is a tough game, kids.
Photo via ABC.
