Liberals stare down next crisis as coalition restored
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley insists she has the overwhelming support of the party room after striking a deal with the National Party to re-form the coalition, but another poll shocker could prove fatal.
Ms Ley said the long-term partners, reunited after a bitter almost three-week separation sparked by a dispute over hate speech laws, were stronger together and focused on holding the Labor government to account.
Repairing his coalition partnership could also give him some breathing room to reassert his leadership of the Liberal Party after the split raised the noise of a possible challenge.
But the return of the National Party’s leading candidates to the shadow cabinet also means Ley will no longer be able to offer promotions to key Liberals to strengthen his position.
Asked what the challenges might be, Ms. Ley said she was “very confident in the overwhelming support of my caucus.”
“Nine months ago they chose me to lead,” he said on Sunday.
“I said I was ready for this job then. I’m ready for this job now.”
Former shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has established himself as a potential challenger after leadership candidate Andrew Hastie withdrew from the race.
While both men were vying for the support of the Liberals’ conservative wing, Mr Hastie’s withdrawal prevented a split in the right-wing party’s vote, clearing the way for Mr Taylor.
Liberal sources said they thought Mr Taylor could prompt a leak next week if opinion polls showed the coalition falling further behind One Nation.
A News poll published in The Australian on Sunday night showed the coalition’s preselection vote falling to 17 per cent, down from 21 per cent in mid-January.
One Nation’s vote share rose to 27 percent; this is a record figure and around 6 per cent of Labor.
The latest poll by Redbridge and DemosAU also showed One Nation ahead or on par with the coalition.
Ms Ley also said the party would soon announce its immigration policies.
This decision, expected by the end of February, is expected to announce Australia’s intention to reduce immigration intake below current levels in order to stem the flow of voters to One Nation.
But this may be too late to save his leadership.
Mr Taylor failed to assuage leak rumors on Friday, telling Sydney radio station 2GB he had leadership ambitions.
Asked if Ms Ley would still be leader in a week’s time, she acknowledged a coup was not on the agenda but had held talks with colleagues about the party’s future.
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