TIM Rogers has lashed out at the "factional system lurking under everything" after resigning last week from the SA Liberal Party because of its failure to support a parliamentary inquiry into unconventional gas exploration.
The former Robe branch president was fulfilling a promise made in July as the protests against mining gathered steam and opposition groups started to coordinate their activities.
In a wide-ranging attack on the party, he said regional representatives seemed unable to sway city-centric MPs "just paying lip-service to their constituents". This had disenfranchised voters and, in particular, farming communities.
Mr Rogers said the Labor government, with support from the Liberals, had given mining companies a green light to continue exploration in the SE, despite overwhelming community and local government opposition.
"I have lived and worked in the state's regions since 1990 and have been on various agricultural and environmental groups and committees," he said.
"For all that time, I have believed that the political will and clout that mattered for us in the regions had been wielded by SA Liberals.
"Well, I have to tell you this is not the case – the party is only there trying to represent Adelaide."
Mr Rogers, a farmer and businessman who has served as vice-president of the SA Liberal Party's Rural and Regional Council, likened the relationship between regional Liberal voters and the party machine to the removal of the zone system from the now defunct SAFF structure.
"If you take the power away from the branches, you lose influence and interest," he said.
Mr Rogers said that when the inquiry into unconventional gas exploration was voted down in state parliament recently it highlighted the gap between the party head office and rural voters.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 30, 2014 issue.
