Johnson dumps on federal Lib director

Expelled former coalition whip Michael Johnson claims federal Liberal Party director
Brian Loughnane was at a meeting where the Queensland MP says he was pressured to
resign from politics.
House of Representatives Speaker Harry Jenkins is considering whether to refer to a
privileges committee allegations Liberal National Party president Bruce McIver tried
to threaten Mr Johnson into resigning from parliament.
Mr Johnson, who was expelled from the LNP last month, told parliament the threat was
made at a meeting on February 25 this year, where Mr McIver and Mr Loughnane were
both present.
Reading from a letter he sent to the Australian Federal Police, Mr Johnson said Mr
McIver had warned he would go to the police with information about the federal MP
unless he quit politics.
"Mr McIver called upon me in no uncertain terms to resign from the federal
parliament at the next election otherwise he would present certain material in his
possession to the police," he said.
"During this meeting Mr McIver produced a large black folder which he alleged
contained material and documents that was evidence of alleged criminal behaviour on
my part."
Mr Loughnane was not immediately available for comment.
Mr Johnson was dumped from the LNP in May over allegations he sought commission for
setting up a business deal. He is now sitting on the crossbenches and has vowed to
run in his seat of Ryan at the next election.
He made the explanation to parliament after the leader of the government in the
House of Representatives, Anthony Albanese, raised the matter with Mr Jenkins. Mr
Jenkins is yet to respond.
Mr McIver denied he had suggested Mr Johnson resign from parliament.
"Mr Johnson was told on several occasions that he should consider his position
within the LNP," he said in a statement.
Claims about the involvement of Mr Loughnane add to the troubles surrounding the
federal Liberal organisation, which is strapped for cash in the run-up to the
election.
There has been upheaval too over Mr Loughnane's reported decision to get rid of his
deputy James McGrath recently.
While that issue played in the background, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott continued
his campaign to take on Labor over the mining super profits tax.
In an address to Minerals Council of Australia conference, Mr Abbott urged the
industry to continue its fight against the tax.
"I have no financial stake whatsoever in this campaign," he said.
"But as an Australian I have a stake in saving this industry and that is what I will
do as long as there is breath in my political body."
Across the road from the conference, union boss Paul Howes and mining magnate Clive
Palmer were at the National Press Club debating the merits of the new regime.
But as the government and the opponents of the tax dig in for a long battle, the
opposition shifted its focus in question time to rorting in the school building
program.
Education Minister Julia Gillard promised to refer concerns to a taskforce looking
at the program but accused the coalition of hypocrisy because it had plans to slash
education spending under its budget cuts.