ALP members in Belinda Neal’s central coast seat of Robertson have failed to back a motion condemning her enemies, adding to pressure on Neal to withdraw from the race to remain Labor’s candidate for this year’s federal election.

At a packed meeting last night of the Robertson Federal Electoral Council held in Neal’s Woy Woy office, and comprising about 40 delegates from the electorate’s ten branches, an expected debate failed to eventuate on a motion penned by Neal loyalists slamming supporters of rival Deborah O’Neill.

On Monday, Crikey published an email from party renegade Darryl Bowling, sent to about 70 local members and state and federal MPs, calling on Neal to “pass the baton” to her preselection nemesis. The airing of the email prompted an angry response from Neal’s office who accused Bowling of acting against the “interests of the Labor Party”.

Neal failed to attend last night’s meeting, citing parliamentary commitments in Canberra. However O’Neill did attend and addressed the delegates in a speech hinting at the disastrous fallout from 2008’s notorious Iguanagate incident.

One attendee, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told Crikey that support for O’Neill in the room was palpable.

“Every time Deb got to her feet there was ripples of applause.”

The number of attendees was a “record” for an FEC meeting, according to those present.

Another controversial ruling last night involved the location of ballot boxes for the March 6 poll, with the decision to erect a single polling station at Woy Woy, rather than several booths scattered throughout the electorate.

George Sidiropoulos, president of the Mangrove Mountain “Greek branch”, and repeatedly elected to state conference on Neal’s ticket, told Crikey that the decision would disenfranchise his members.

“I’ve got older members out in Spencer [an outlying town] who will now have to drive all the way in.”

Sidiropoulos refused to explicitly back Neal when questioned by Crikey.

“I will support any person that wins the preselection…both candidates are my friends.”

Crikey understands that key members of the Kariong branch, previously loyal to Neal, failed to attend last night.

Robertson FEC President Katie Smith, a longtime Neal supporter, refused to comment on the meeting this morning. The mood amid the electorate’s approximately 150 ALP members is believed to be tense with Smith leaning on local branches to cap leaks to the media.

The outcome of last night’s meeting will increase the strain on Neal following the publication of a page-3 splash in this morning’s Daily Telegraph over rule-breaking radio ads spruiking her record in the electorate. The story, quoting “party sources”, said charges would laid by party members today over the broadcast of the commercials. However, Crikey understands that there has been no movement from either ALP head office or local members on the issue thus far.