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CONTROVERSIAL former MP Belinda Neal’s bold bid to reignite her political career came to a crashing halt this morning when she was booted out of the Labor Party over branch-stacking allegations.
NSW ALP general secretary Kaila Murnain took to social media to confirm the “Iguanagate†MP had been kicked out after an internal tribunal upheld charges brought under party rules that she had engaged in “unworthy conductâ€.
“The party officers today adopted the decision of the Internal Appeals Tribunal and resolved that Belinda Neal be expelled from NSW Labor,†Ms Murnain wrote on Twitter.
NSW Labor’s Internal Appeals Tribunal (IAT) had recommended the former Robertson MP’s expulsion after she had been charged in February over a breach of party rules.
An ALP member reportedly alleged that Ms Neal attended her Woy Woy home “on several occasions†and “asked me to sign the Woy Woy branch bookâ€.
Ms Neal said she had not been in hospital this morning and not officially told of her expulsion.
“The ALP tribunal proceeded with a hearing in my absence when I had a medical certificate, so with only one side of the story being told, what would you expect,†she said.
“The decision is subject to appeal to the review tribunal and I hope they will deal with the claims fairly.â€
Ms Neal had nominated to gain preselection at a party meeting yesterday to contest the Central Coast Council election on September 9.
The party today said that counting to decide Labor’s candidates would now be held over pending an investigation into the eligibility of some preselectors.
“The NSW Labor Internal Appeals Tribunal instructed the party office to delay announcing the result of the public-selection ballot for the Central Coast Council,†a Labor spokesman told the Express Advocate.
“The IAT received a number of challenges to the eligibility of voters of the preselection. The result of the ballot will be provided to party members as soon as the review tribunal has met to consider the challenges.
“NSW Labor is dedicated to ensuring that Labor candidates for Central Coast Council are out campaigning as soon as possible.â€
Ms Neal hit national headlines in 2008 the she took her electoral staff to Iguana Joe’s at Gosford for a party.
A row over seating broke out between her and Iguana’s employees and also embroiled her husband, former NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca.
The couple was cleared of any wrongdoing, and Ms Neal has disputed claims made by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that he ordered her to undertake anger-management counselling.