Speculation has been mounting that Sussan Ley’s leadership of the Liberal Party could be challenged by a colleague.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie has denied he will launch a leadership challenge.
However, he has also questioned the future viability of the party under its current direction.
Here’s what you need to know.
Liberal Party
Ley became the leader of the Liberal Party after the Coalition’s loss at the federal election in May, taking over from Peter Dutton. Sheis the first woman to hold the position in the party’s history.
Ley is also part of the moderate faction of the party, meaning her appointment was seen as a decision by the party to move more to the centre.
However, since Ley became leader, there have been reports of internal disagreements about the party’s ideological direction.
Andrew Hastie
Hastie, the current Shadow Home Affairs Minister, is from the conservative wing of the Liberal Party.
In the past month, he has begun sharing opinions that differ from the party’s positions, and are outside his portfolio.
For example, he has said the Liberal Party should abandon its pre-election policy of net zero by 2050. The Coalition is currently reviewing its policies.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Net zero greenhouse gas emissions refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and taken out of the atmosphere.
In an interview with the ABC earlier this month, Hastie said net zero is a “straitjacket for our economy and our country“.
Hastie said if Ley continues to support net zero by 2050, then he would leave his job as Shadow Home Affairs Minister.
He then doubled down on this position in an interview with Sky News, when he said: “I wouldn’t be much use to the Coalition if I’m out the front trying to sell a policy I don’t believe in.”
Hastie has also been posting about reducing the number of people migrating to Australia, and his belief that we need to manufacture more products in Australia.
Like energy, the party is yet to reveal its official post-election policies in these areas.
Hastie’s remarks have led to media speculation that he is gearing up for a leadership challenge.
Response
When asked about this, Hastie has said he still supports Ley, but also questioned the Liberal Party’s direction.
In an interview with Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday, he said: “I support Sussan. Anyone who’s speculating otherwise is being mischievous.”
When asked about the future of the party, however, Hastie said he fears it will disappear.
“I think, unless we get our act together, we’re going to be potentially in further decline and perhaps one day extinct,” he said.
