Liberal Party members from across the country have gathered in the nation’s capital, as fresh allegations against one of their own rock federal parliament. 

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and deputy leader Sussan Ley will address the annual federal council meeting on Saturday, which is being attended by state leaders, shadow ministers and senior office bearers. 

While Mr Dutton hoped the meeting’s focus would be on national security and the Albanese government’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis, it has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of misconduct made against Liberal senator David Van.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe and former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker both alleged Senator Van had touched them inappropriately in previous years. 

Senator Van denied the allegations and said he would cooperate with any investigation process. 

But Mr Dutton expelled the Victorian senator from the federal party room and later called for him to resign from parliament.

He also revealed a third allegation against Senator Van was under investigation, but declined to provide further details.  

The Victorian division’s administrative committee will meet over the weekend to further consider the allegations.

The party has suspended all organisational resources and support for Senator Van.

Mr Dutton told reporters the issue of whether Senator Van should be expelled from the Victorian branch was a matter for the division. 

But Liberal Senate leader Simon Birmingham said Senator Van no longer sat in the federal party room and therefore should not have a place in the party.

Senator Birmingham said “enormous steps” had been taken to improve the parliamentary workplace in the past few years.

“We’re dealing with allegations from some time ago,” he told reporters.

“I hope that if anything like this is occurring at present, people should know and should have confidence that there are new, independent agencies in place to help them through this.”

Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli and NT opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro will also address the council. 

The two-day meeting provides an opportunity for council members to debate federal policies and discuss a range of issues. 

The meeting is the first to be held since the fall of the coalition government last year.

The Liberals’ troubles worsened when they lost the blue-ribbon seat of Aston at a by-election in April.

Party officials are hopeful of retaining the Queensland seat of Fadden at the July 15 by-election.

By Maeve Bannister in Canberra