State Liberal Party boss Sam McQuestin has written to the Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner requesting an “urgent” audit of the Jacqui Lambie Network’s membership list.
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It comes after the JLN’s latest e-newsletter contained a plea for more people to sign up as members.
The former senator’s minor party is running a number of candidates in the state election.
In the newsletter, Ms Lambie said the Australian Electoral Commission would be confirming whether or not the party had more than the 500 members required for party status.
“We do have the numbers, but it’s tight,” Ms Lambie wrote.
“I want to sign up 200 more people, that would give us a comfortable buffer.”
Ms Lambie also said in the newsletter that the party was offering free membership, with the only proviso being “potentially taking a call from the AEC and telling them you’re a JLN member”.
Liberal Party state director Mr McQuestin said the JLN’s party status was “under a cloud” and should be clarified before the state election on March 3.
JLN spokesman Glynn Williams said Mr McQuestin’s claims were “scandalous and misleading” and called on him to apologise.
“This is a state election underway and we are fully registered with excess members to the number required under the Electoral Act,” he said.
”Sam McQuestin knows better and should apologise for making such a misleading and mischievous statement.”
