The Australia - Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group was relaunched in Canberra at the Sri Lanka High Commission under the Chair of Member of Federal Parliament, Sri Lanka born Cassandra Fernando of the Labour Party and Vice Chair Senator James McGrath of the Liberal Party.
This group, which
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has accused her former party of "racism" in a tense moment with ex-Greens colleague Sarah Hanson-Young during Senate Estimates on Wednesday.
The LNP state council, made up of party leaders, councillors, and federal and state MPs, voted on the ticket order, granting Senator McGrath the coveted first place and relegating Senator Stoker to the still-winnable third spot.
The result was seen as a snub to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was believed to be privately backing Senator Stoker after weeks of turmoil over the treatment of women in Parliament.
Speaking at a Sydney Conservative Forum on Monday night, Senator Stoker said preselectors needed to be educated on âabout what you actually need to be a good parliamentarianâ.
âWe think we know that instinctively just from being out in our communities, but as I learned the hard way in a preselection pretty recently â no,â she told the forum, hosted by the Roseville branch of the Liberal Party.
Snubbed Stoker says rival won top spot by drinking more beers with preselectors brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.