Police act on Liberal party brawl at Club Marconi | thetelegraph.com.au
SENIOR Liberal Party members will be questioned by police after a routine meeting at Club Marconi ended in a wild brawl.
Police and security were called to the club on Wednesday night after reports more than 20 senior Liberal Party members were pushing and shoving each other.
State MPs Charlie Lynn and Andrew Rohan – as well as their staff and local Liberal councillors – were at the club when the argument erupted. The MPs were not involved in the brawl.
It began after an alleged physical incident involving a Young Liberal member and supporters of Fairfield local government conference chairman Paul Azzo – a former bodybuilder. The altercation was sparked by an alleged exchange between Mr Azzo’s brother and the teenager.
The meeting is believed to have descended into chaos after Mr Azzo shut down the AGM and refused to answer questions from the floor.
The teen, who left the club in his car, later gave a statement to police.
Three police units arrived at the club about 9.30pm after reports of a brawl involving 20 people – from warring Liberal factions.
“Fairfield police are now investigating and have spoken to two men involved in the altercation,” police said.
Mr Lynn last night confirmed he had referred the incident to the Liberal Party state executive, who will decide whether to take any action against Mr Azzo.
A Liberal member at the meeting said he saw two men allegedly grab the teenager and throw him against a bar.
“It has placed the Liberal Party in a bad light,” he said.
“There were women in the room and they were distressed by what happened.”
Mr Rohan, the MLA for Smithfield, condemned the alleged fight and said he no longer felt safe to attend the meetings.
He said branch members had told him of the alleged fight.
“I don’t think it was appropriate behaviour and we will not be attending any further meetings,” Mr Rohan said.
Fairfield councillor and developer Joe Molluso described the alleged brawl as “a storm in a teacup”.
“Two guys were talking as people walked out of the venue and they exchanged words and it got heated. People started stepping in and there was a bit of push and shove,” he said.
Darin Sullivan 