Liberal leader’s allies vow support amid spill ‘frenzy’
Allies of embattled Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have declared their unwavering support for her remaining in the top job as speculation about her future grows.
Opposition immigration spokesman Paul Scarr, a moderate, said he gave Ms Ley his “100 per cent support” and backed her leading the vote on contentious hate crime legislation passed with Liberal support.
“Sussan has shown since she became leader how she can tackle some very, very difficult issues,” Senator Scarr told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“People often talk about the risks from legislation, but there was a risk of not passing this legislation, so I think Sussan acted very responsibly.”
In response to the 14 December Bondi terrorist attack, Parliament passed legislation to ban hate groups and increase penalties for hate speech.
The legislation triggered the breakup of the coalition after National Party MPs split with the Liberals in voting against the legislation.
Liberals frontman Angus Taylor and now-reserve Andrew Hastie are looking to replace Ms Ley.
Although sources told AAP that a leak was likely to be announced when parliament meets in the first week of February, the opposition leader refused to bow to the pressure.
Senator Scarr said he had not been contacted by Mr Taylor or Mr Hastie to run figures on a potential leadership tilt.
He echoed a quote from Ms Ley that rumors about his leadership were part of a “frenzy of speculation in the media”.
“There is no announced challenge at this time. There is no stated intent to leak,” Senator Scarr said.
Addressing reporters in Corowa on Australia Day, Ms Ley said there was “absolutely no” belief that his leadership was over.
But Mr Taylor will not rule out taking a stand against the leadership when politicians return to Canberra.
“The Liberal Party has a lot of work to do,” he said.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson also backed Ms Ley, saying the party “doesn’t want tantrums like we’ve seen in the National Party”.
“What people want to see is leadership,” he told Sky News.
“I always support the leader, no matter what we have to make sure we are united behind the team.”
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