The Net and nothing but the Net

FORMER deputy leader Vickie Chapman has exposed the fragile nature of Liberal Party unity in South Australia by refusing to rule out a challenge to Isobel Redmond during the next term of government.

Ms Chapman, a central figure in destabilising former leader Martin Hamilton-Smith, twice yesterday refused to give Ms Redmond complete support.

Her position changed last night when she said Ms Redmond had her full support.

“I will not challenge Isobel for the position of leader of the Liberal parliamentary party or premier,” Ms Chapman said in a statement. “I am committed to winning the state election.”

But Ms Chapman’s refusal to say so in the first instance will stupify Liberal supporters, who have seen Ms Redmond take the party from obscurity to a genuine chance in Saturday’s election.

It raises questions about how much stability a Redmond government could offer.

Read more…South Australian Liberal Party very fragile – Around South Australia

FORMER Liberal deputy leader Vickie Chapman has refused to rule out challenging Isobel Redmond for the Liberal leadership after the election.

She twice dodged the question at a press conference today – and even when contacted by AdelaideNow later in the afternoon, Ms Chapman tried to defuse the issue, saying it was “not a relevant question”.

Asked twice at the earlier press conference, Ms Chapman avoided directly answering questions about whether she would make a tilt for the leadership in the next four years.

Instead she tried to focus attention on the short time the Liberal Party had left to try to win government on Saturday.

“We are fighting in the next five days to make sure we have an opportunity for a Liberal Government, I have always said that is the absolute priority for myself and other colleagues,” she said.

Read more…Vickie Chapman won’t rule out challenge to Liberal leader Isobel Redmond | Adelaide Now