The Country Liberal Party is having problems selling tickets to a party fundraiser featuring federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, according to an internal party email imploring members to show up or the event will be cancelled.

The email sent to all Darwin and Calder branch members offered a desperate appeal to either attend the event on Tuesday evening themselves or “spread the word” and invite others to “what should be a spectacular event”.

“Currently the ticket sales are low and the event is at risk of being cancelled unless we can turn sales around over the weekend,” the email from party headquarters said.

The event is a fundraiser for the North Darwin branch of the CLP and is being billed as “drinks with the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Mrs Lia Finocchiaro MLA” at the Darwin Golf Club.

Mr Dutton was named Leader of the Federal Liberal Party and Opposition Leader following the Coalition’s defeat at the May election. The former police officer was first elected to his Queensland seat of Dickson in 2001 and previously held portfolios in the Howard, Abbot, Turnbull and Morrison Coalition governments.

Mr Dutton unsuccessfully challenged Malcolm Turnbull for leader in 2018, with Scott Morrison later being elected. The former defence and homeland security homeland security minister is known for his hard right approach in politics and was criticised for the attempted deportation and detainment of the “Biloela family” – a family of Sri Lankans – the parents of which arrived on a people smuggler boat and married in Australia and had two children. They were released by Labor following the 2022 election.

In the last ditch message to party faithful, the CLP organisers said the event was for “anyone who is upset with the current government”.

“North Darwin branch are actively trying to rebuild their branch and it would be great if you could give them some support by helping boost their ticket sales for their upcoming fundraiser …”