Sussan Ley insists Liberal leadership aspirants Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor are “strong, committed members” of her team as she defends her work as opposition leader amid the Coalition’s split.
Just before 8am, Today host Sarah Abo asked Ley how she planned to lead the country if she couldn’t lead the Coalition, to which the Liberal leader said: “I have led, and with respect, we’ve had genuine wins with all of the things we’ve done so far.”
She listed the opposition’s energy and migration policies, Bondi terror attack response, and concern for the cost of living as evidence of her leadership.
“I know that it hasn’t been the summer that the Labor Party wanted because I as leader have held them to account, and stood there every day,” she said.
Host Karl Stefanovic, however, soon asked: “How long have you got before they knife you?”
Ley responded:
That’s a question of course you would ask, Karl.
But I am absolutely confident of the leadership I have delievered, the leadership I will deliver. And the strength of effort that my party and I are making every single day on the behalf of the people – the millions of Australians who sent us to Canberra.
Now, I know there’s been speculation. And I know that tends to drive a lot of reporting. But what is really going on here is the business of opposition. And it’s important. And it matters. And the government has made mistakes. And they’ll continue to make mistakens when we hold them to account in the way that we have.
Abo then asked: “Are you worried about Andrew Hastie or Angus Taylor?”
Ley responded:
They’re strong committed members of my team. In fact, Angus dialled in from overseas where he was, as part of my Liberal leadership group, to back in the actions that we took.
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