“Recent changes to electoral law mean that postal vote applications can only be distributed by the VEC,” the commission’s spokeswoman said.
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Lloyd,who is widely respected,was responsible for ensuring the party complied with strict new election laws.
Her exit on the eve of the election campaign comes after weeks of staff turnover and feuding between Guy’s office and McQuestin,whohas threatened to quit over a dispute withNick McGowan,Guy’s close friend,former best man and chief of staff.
Lloyd’s letter to Mirabella continued:“Last Friday I advised you that given the nature of these issues,including the involvement of various directors at the Secretariat,I was unable to continue in my role.
“At that time you asked me to give you the weekend to consider what action you were willing to take,which has now occurred. I note that this afternoon you elected to take no action,and requested that I work with the state director[McQuestin] on my concerns.
“As I do not have the authority to rectify these matters myself,and noting that the matters involve multiple directors at the Secretariat,I now tender my resignation effective immediately.”
Lloyd,who reported directly to McQuestin,not Mirabella,declined to comment for this story,as did Mirabella. McQuestin toldThe Age he thanked Lloyd for her contribution to the party but “while I respect Ms Lloyd,I disagree with the characterisations of events”.
“Professional differences are not unusual in a campaign … The Liberal Party takes its responsibilities under all relevant legislation seriously,and acts accordingly,” he said.
Asked on Sunday about reports of internal dissent in party headquarters,Guy saidstaff,MPs and candidates were “energised and hungry” and were focused on winning next month’s election.
The VEC is also looking into the “Ditch Dan” donation drive. While most of the 2300 donations to the party were relatively small amounts and below the threshold required to publicly declare,more than 20 exceeded the $1080 threshold.
Dozens of the donations were made anonymously,despite being above the legal limit that requires donators to identify themselves. And many of the donations listed on the website with names attached have not been declared to the VEC within the 21-day timeframe.
In previous elections,parties could mail voters applications that allow them to send their election ballot in the post.
But the Andrews government made it illegal for parties to do this at the November election,on the basis that the party mailouts were branded with party colours and had the effect of influencing people’s votes.
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The Coalition argued this change was designed to harm conservative parties,whose base includes more older people,who traditionally vote by post.
Despite this change,The Age has seen evidence that multiple Liberal Party candidates have mailed postal vote applications to voters.
Some senior party operatives have been disenchanted with McQuestin,the party’s campaign director,for years and have seized on Lloyd’s claims about the secretariat to strengthen the case for his removal.
But others believe he deserves to lead the Liberals to the November 26 election,especially after a week in which theopposition’s transport fare reduction pledges won positive media coverage.
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