Anthony Albanese taunts new Liberal leaders in first comments since Sussan Ley’s ousting | Australian politics
To launch his first attack on new opposition leader Angus Taylor, the Prime Minister quoted his sharp-tongued predecessor and asked: “Can a souffle rise once?”
Alban played infamous insult From former prime minister Paul Keating, who asked whether the souffle had risen twice when Liberal Andrew Peacock challenged to regain the party leadership in 1989.
“Angus Taylor presents us with a new question: Can a soufflé rise once?” Albanese said while speaking at the NSW Labor Nation conference in Orange on Saturday.
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It was the prime minister’s first public comment on Taylor’s ouster of Sussan Ley in the long-awaited Liberal leadership spill. Taylor’s 34-17 victory on Friday unseated the Liberals’ first female leader just nine months after taking office.
Albanese said Taylor and his new running mate, Senator Jane Hume, had both damaged their parties with their various opposition to tax cuts, cost-of-living relief and renewable energy.
“It’s extraordinary that they conspired for eight months to put into leadership positions two people who were more responsible than anyone else in the entire show for alienating the Liberals from Australian voters,” he said.
“But that’s what they did. They failed in every challenge that came our way.”
Within minutes of the leadership change, the federal government launched online attack ads criticizing Taylor’s record as a minister and shadow treasurer.
Federal minister Murray Watt said the leak would do little to help the Coalition.
“The Liberal party has completely lost touch with the vast majority of Australians and the things they care about,” Watt told reporters in Sydney on Friday. he said. “There is no evidence to date that Angus Taylor has any solutions to these challenges.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Taylor’s record was a mess.
“Angus has zero credibility on the economy and the Coalition doesn’t put the trash on fire,” he said.
Just days after reforming the Coalition led by Ley, National Party leader David Littleproud said Taylor would be the right person to lead the opposition back into government.
“Angus is the leader Australia needs to fight against Labour’s reckless spending and ideology,” he said. “Angus can offer hope to eager Australians and those struggling to break into the housing market.”
After losing the leadership, Ley announced he would resign from parliament in the coming weeks, triggering a by-election in the NSW seat of Farrer.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said her party will nominate candidates in the upcoming by-elections.
