A four-page solicitor's letter threatening legal action against the Canberra Liberals by its president Adam Morris has shed light on the division's ongoing factional stoush.
Fired off in the wake of an early February management committee meeting, the letter seen by The Canberra Times speaks of "sealed envelopes" with "Machiavellian implications."
The division was engaged in "a procedural failure and denial of natural justice," it alleged, complaining that "Mr Morris has not been treated with either dignity or respect."
The letter refers to a decision by the committee to send two complaints to an independent investigator, understood to have occurred after Canberra Liberals director Adam Wojtonis raised a conflict of interest.
"A vote was taken to refer the matter without a scintilla of information indicating the nature of the matter which was being referred," it said.
Mr Wojtonis, who had clashed with Mr Morris since he was elected president in November, went on leave shortly after the meeting and is embroiled in workplace law dispute with the division.
"The Liberal Party has amplified the possible damage from the allegations, by fuelling innuendo to fill the vacuum of information created," the legal letter said of the investigation referral.
"This theatre you have created conveys a message that the complaint is so heinous that the management committee could not and should not know of the details."
Among the issues contested between the division and Mr Wojtonis is the handling of a quantum of time in lieu accrued during the 2025 election campaign.
Sources with knowledge of the matter, granted anonymity to speak freely, have told The Canberra Times he has been offered a financial settlement.
The legal letter called for the management committee to "urgently reconvene" and for Mr Morris to be given an opportunity to argue his case.
It said Mr Morris was "informed, but ... can not confirm, that the complaint or complaints made relate to allegations of what might broadly be referred to as 'conflicts of interest'."
This masthead has previously reported that some party members have voiced concerns that Mr Morris is married to conservative deputy Canberra Liberals leader and member of the Legislative Assembly Deborah Morris, with former deputy leader Giulia Jones calling this "a massive conflict of interest."
The letter said the complaints about Mr Morris should have been aired through a complaints and dispute resolution committee.
"At least if that was done, the worst of the range of suspicions available would be contained," it said.
The Canberra Times was sent a copy of the solicitor's letter by an anonymous source, who remarked that a president taking legal action against his own party was "like something Trump would do."
A Canberra Liberals spokesperson said the management committee had "unanimously dismissed" the matters referred to in the letter on April 20.
"As this matter concerns internal party processes and unsubstantiated allegations, it would be inappropriate to comment on confidential correspondence or alleged procedural discussions that may have been improperly disclosed," the spokesperson said.
"Mr Morris' marital status was common knowledge when party members elected him as president.
"Our team remains united and focused on holding Labor governments in the ACT and federally to account for policies making it harder for businesses and families to get ahead."
ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton said the Canberra Liberals' factional struggle, "by and large, is now settled" and that he had been "pleased and impressed with the processes that I've seen."
"As is the case with just about every political party, there's often a struggle between the left and the right," Mr Parton told this masthead.
"I've been involved in this party for a decade in the ACT ... It is as functional now as it's ever been."
Ms Morris said when approached by The Canberra Times: "As I'm sure you might expect, I honestly cannot comment on any internal party matters ... It would be totally inappropriate."
The deputy leader, who is on the management committee, told ABC Canberra on May 5 that she had no awareness of the factional stoush - including allegations of bullying and intimidation - until reading about it in this newspaper that morning.
"That's when I heard of it," she said at the time.
As for an alleged conflict of interest, Ms Morris told host Ross Solly: "The presidency is a, it's a volunteer position, anyone can put their hand up and nominate for that."
Mr Morris and Mr Wojtonis declined to comment.
