Liberal party branch-stacking: fears push for virtual state council could kill off audit

Insiders say campaign for digital Victorian council could scuttle forensic audit of new members

Federal electorate conference chairs in 14 Victorian seats are campaigning for a virtual state council of the Liberal party - a sortie which party insiders fear is an effort to scuttle a forensic audit to deal with fresh branch stacking allegations.

Labor has ratcheted up pressure on Scott Morrison to take action after fresh allegations were aired by the Nine network last weekend about Liberal party branch-stacking orchestrated by a conservative party powerbroker with links to the Victorian frontbencher Michael Sukkar and veteran MP Kevin Andrews.