In July 2002 Bob Quinn had an unusual advocate in Lawlor, who made an impassioned speech in Parliament in support of the Liberal Leader, Lawlor told the Parliament of a plan by 'branch stackers' in the Liberal Party to drive Quinn out of politics. Lawlor said that he had known Quinn for over 40 years and he was an honest and conscientious person. Allegations were raised of ethnic branch stacking on the Gold Coast within the Liberal Party using the federal Division of Fadden as an example where he alleged 50 Vietnamese had suddenly joined the Springwood business branch as pensioners or students, non of whom lived within the electoral division. The next week Peter Beattie followed suit and mocked the Liberal Leader in Parliament saying that he was his number one supporter.