The membership committee, led by Brighton numbers man Marcus Bastiaan, has been talking to churches, Probus groups, retail traders' associations, healthcare professionals, Scout groups and "anyone that will listen" about joining up.

Groups of new members have sprung up in electorates across the state, worrying some MPs, with some senior figures labelling the drive "branch stacking".

There is concern recruits are mostly interested in socially conservative policies, such as winding back abortion, rather than broader Liberal philosophies. "This is about a battle for the heart of the party," a senior Victorian Liberal said.

Many Liberals believe that a lurch to the hard right on social issues will stymie electoral chances in Victoria.

There have been calls for an internal audit of membership, or at least rigorous checks put in place for membership.

Mr Bastiaan and the membership committee have the "full support" of party president Michael Kroger, who agrees that the party needs to increase its membership of about 12,500, which is ageing.

Former Family First candidates have signed up, including respected HIV specialist Dr Ivan Stratov, who is now talking to his networks, including the Mormons, about politics.

Mr Bastiaan's partner, Stephanie Ross, a prominent pro-life advocate, is also involved. She runs the conservative Menzies-Warrandyte Young Liberals, who have run fundraisers for federal MPs Kevin Andrews and Michael Sukkar.

"They are focusing on people who should be the DLP [Democratic Labour Party]," another critic of the recruitment drive said.

Mr Bastiaan, who also sits on the powerful administrative committee, has dismissed concerns about the recruitment drive, saying allegations of branch stacking were "utter rubbish".

"We are talking to all liberal-minded people about joining the party," he said. "Our membership is collapsing. If we don't start thinking about membership and being representative of like-minded people, then in time it will no longer exist."

The Liberal Party, he said, was failing to represent aspirational voters. He also hit out at the stream of former staffers who were constantly running for preselection.

"Bringing a tray of Anzac biscuits to curry favour with elderly preselection delegates is not the way to beat the Labor Party," he said.

Mr Bastiaan dismissed the "Christian" tag, saying that to his knowledge less than a third of new members would identify themselves as Christians. He said critics were using talks with church groups as a tool to attack him.

"This is a desperate attempt from elements of the traditional factional structure in Victoria against new members," Mr Bastiaan said.

"The party membership is delighted new members are turning up to meetings and offering to help."

Mr Kroger said it would be "irresponsible" not to recruit.

"We need new members if we are going to combat GetUp and the trade unions; the party needs thousands of new members," Mr Kroger said.

The powerful admin committee, which meets next week, has had some discussions about an internal auditor, but no action has been ordered – to the disappointment of concerned figures.

Dr Stratov said he had been explaining about the political process to those interested and that the Liberal Party was one of only two that could hold government.

In 2010 he ran as a Family First candidate, in part to help Liberal Neil Angus defeat Labor's Kirsty Marshall in Forest Hill.