Liberal Party members in the South Australian seat held by suspended Sam Duluk have reportedly voted to support their local MP, despite the Premier banishing him from the Liberal partyroom.

Key points: Sam Duluk has been suspended from the Liberal Party over his alleged behaviour

Sam Duluk has been suspended from the Liberal Party over his alleged behaviour Mr Duluk is accused of slapping SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the backside at a Christmas party

Mr Duluk is accused of slapping SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the backside at a Christmas party His local Liberal sub-branch has voted to support him despite his suspension



ABC Radio Adelaide's David Bevan has obtained an audio recording of the Liberal Party's Waite sub-branch meeting, which was held in Mr Duluk's office last night.

One member, John Hepworth, put forward a motion of support for Mr Duluk, who has been reported by police for basic assault after his behaviour at a parliamentary Christmas party.

Mr Duluk was suspended from the Liberal Party by Premier Steven Marshall last week, and is accused of slapping SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the backside.

At the instigation of Liberal MP and Speaker Vincent Tarzia, Mr Duluk's behaviour had been the subject of an independent probe by a private investigator.

That investigation was criticised by Labor as being "shrouded in secrecy" and has now been halted as police investigate the case.

"I have suspended the independent investigation to avoid any potential interference with the police investigation," Mr Tarzia today told Parliament.

Mr Duluk is also accused of making inappropriate comments to staffers at the event at Parliament House late last year, and will be summoned to court to face a basic assault charge.

Mr Hepworth told last night's Waite sub-branch meeting the matter was dealt with by the MP's apology to Parliament.

"Sam behaved and then apologised and then in, I thought rather beautiful words, apologised again to the Parliament," he told the meeting.

"The branch wishes to inform state executive of its support for Sam Duluk's ongoing representation as the Member for Waite.

"It's not our job to canvas the police matters or anything like that or pass judgment in advance or anything like that but it is our job as members and constituents … to make our clear views known to those who might be in a position to do something about it."

Premier Steven Marshall banished Mr Duluk from the Liberal partyroom. ( ABC News: Nick Harmsen )

Mr Hepworth said he had encouraged Mr Duluk to apologise, and joked that Parliament was not the only workplace where Christmas parties got out of hand.

"I was the one who urged him to do that because the alleged offence behaviour took place within the Parliament and it was rightly the Parliament's problem, in just the same way as we expect Channel Seven to deal with their Christmas party too which I understand was much worse than the Parliament's," he said.

"There's a lot of bloody-mindedness here."

However, Mr Hepworth later clarified those remarks.

"I was alluding to what happens generally at Christmas parties even now in the private and public sector, and Channel Seven leapt at me as an example," he said.

"I have no direct evidence and I have apologised to Channel Seven for making that example quite out of context."

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Labor has accused the branch and the party's conservative faction of showing "defiance" towards the Premier, but Mr Marshall today denied the party was in open warfare.

"Sam's got a huge number of supporters and people who have helped him campaign over the years, but Sam is no longer a member of the Liberal Party," he said.

"Last night, state executive met — they unanimously voted to agree to his suspension from the Liberal Party."

Duluk admits 'it's been a difficult journey'

Mr Duluk — who has been largely silent on the matter — addressed the meeting, thanking the members for their support.

"It's been hard for a lot of you and it's been hard for the electorate and for that I'm really, really sorry," Mr Duluk told the meeting.

"To my … former parliamentary Liberal colleagues as well it's been a difficult journey for them as well and I thank those who've been able to support me and I thank so many of you who've reached out personally, via the office, in the community, at the RSL."

Mr Duluk is accused of inappropriately touching SA Best MP Connie Bonaros. ( ABC News )

However, support was not unanimous with at least one attendee voicing their dissent.

"If this goes to state executive, if it becomes public property, as it inevitably probably will, then it would appear that the Waite [branch] is in conflict with the Premier," former Liberal police minister Wayne Matthew said.

"John's done this for honourable reasons to show support for Sam, but it could be like throwing him a life rope with an anchor instead of a life buoy.

"You don't need to have this branch … in conflict with what the Premier has stated publicly."

Senator Simon Birmingham was critical of the Waite sub-branch for its actions.

"They erred in their judgment and I doubt they had all the facts before them," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

"We all know Sam, I'm sure they know Sam and it's not unusual that local party members who have selected their local Liberal candidate … will have an affinity and an affection for that member and that candidate so I can understand that there would firmly be mixed emotions in terms of that branch."

Conservative faction showing 'open defiance of Premier'

Senator Birmingham said he did not think the branch's motion "was a helpful thing to do", and the state branch of the party had endorsed the Premier's decision.

"In the end, the state executive was meeting last night and unanimously accepted the suspension of Sam Duluk's membership," he said.

"The Premier has made it clear he doesn't tolerate, doesn't accept and will not accept the behaviour that's been alleged and the state executive has unanimously backed in the Premier."

The ABC understands the meeting was attended by about 40 to 50 people including members of the conservative faction, to which Mr Duluk belongs.

Among those present were Liberal MP for Narungga Fraser Ellis, Liberal Senator Alex Antic and former member for Davenport Stan Evans.

SA Labor said the Liberal Party's conservative faction had directly challenged the Premier's authority.

"What shocks me is the act of open defiance — the old wounds and the old enemies surfacing again," Opposition MP Tom Koutsantonis said.

"This is in open defiance of the Premier."