The 26-member Liberal National Party state executive on Monday blocked Ian Macfarlane’s move to defect from Liberal to the National party with the view to return to the forefront of the Turnbull government.

“The LNP will not be supporting Ian Macfarlane’s intention to move to the Nationals party room in Canberra,” the Queensland LNP said in a statement on Monday.

Gary Spence, the LNP President, said the decision has been taken by the executive by keeping in mind the best interest of the Queensland LNP.

“While LNP members of the Groom electorate voted to support Mr. Macfarlane’s decision, the interests of our party beyond his electorate were taken into account,” the Guardian quoted him as saying. “In rejecting Ian’s request to move to the Nationals’ party room, the LNP acknowledges his enormous contribution to our party and importantly to the people of Groom and Australia.”

Macfarlane, who was chucked out from the cabinet after Malcolm Turnbull took over as the Prime Minister of Australia replacing Tony Abbott, said he is disappointed with the outcome after he won the support of his local branch but he also said that he accepted the decision. He added that LNP is a grassroots level organisation and it would be answerable to the people in Groom who voted in his support.

Retirement is not what he wants at the moment, said Macfarlane. “I’m the longest serving resources minister Australia’s had and there may be opportunities in that area, or I may continue in politics,” he said. “I’ll be now taking some time over Christmas and having the holiday that I planned and I’ll be making an announcement in the New Year. In the end, I am always going to accept the LNP’s decision.”

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES