Anti-abortion campaigner wins control of Brisbane LNP division

A prominent anti-abortion campaigner has won control of a Brisbane division of the Liberal National party, prompting alarm among moderates that “fringe infiltrators” were attempting to increase their influence as polls point to a state election win.

Alan Baker, a former vice-president of the anti-abortion lobby group Cherish Life, was elected chair of the LNP’s Griffith federal divisional council (FDC) by two votes on Thursday night.

The council controls preselections and campaigns in the federal seat of Griffith, which has been held by the Greens and considered Queensland’s most progressive.

Sources have told Guardian Australia that Baker’s supporters turned up to Thursday night’s vote and quizzed the moderate faction’s candidate for chair about abortion.

FDC chair positions are held by relatively low-level officials within the party structure but have a seat on the state council.

Another LNP source said: “Fringe infiltrators can see an election victory around the corner and are desperate to increase their influence”.