“It’s a very difficult time for the Liberal Party,” she said. “I’ve been a member of parliament since 2013. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen in our party, and I’ve seen a few dramas.”
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Ley, speaking to reporters hours after Henderson’s remarks, said, “I’m not going to comment on commentary”, that she was leading “a very proud team”, and “the only thing I care about is working hard for the Australian people”.
Asked repeatedly about the backbencher’s comments, Ley said she was “very proud of her team”.
Two key right-wing leadership aspirants, Taylor and Andrew Hastie, and energy spokesman Dan Tehan played down leadership tensions after Henderson’s remarks.
Taylor said: “I think Sussan is well established as leader, and will lead us through to the next election.“
On 2GB, Hastie said “the thing we have to do is come to a position on net zero,” when asked for his response to Henderson’s comments. “And that’s my singular focus. Until we sort that out, it doesn’t matter who leads the party.”
Several of Henderson’s colleagues were critical of her decision to rebuke Ley in public.
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A source close to Ley said: “Sarah Henderson is a magician. Today, she has single-handedly achieved something which has proved elusive for much of the past six months: she has united the party room behind Sussan Ley. We owe her a great deal of gratitude.”
“We are not ready yet”, one MP said of Right faction plotting to bring in a new leader, “and Sussan needs to fail on her own terms”.
Tony Pasin, a Right faction MP, said that Henderson’s comments were not reflective of a widespread feeling. “It’s about the policies that they want to see. It’s not about the personalities,” he said.
However, Henderson’s comments, following the complaints of West Australian MP Ben Small on Thursday about the recall to Canberra, reflect a new phase of unrestrained criticism of Ley from her opponents on the backbench.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaks to reporters outside the Hyatt Hotel, Canberra.Credit: David Beach
One senior Liberal opponent of Ley, who asked to speak anonymously, said: “[A challenge] is not this year. She needs more time and she has to be given every opportunity to fail. Take your Christmas holidays”.
“Sarah was on a frolic, if this was co-ordinated then more people would be out [criticising Ley]. I can’t see a challenge next week, people just want this policy [net zero] resolved, the other aspirants want this resolved,” the MP said.
“My understanding is we will probably get a PowerPoint slideshow [on the net zero policy] next Wednesday, we will give our hot takes, and then it goes to shadow cabinet for sign off on Thursday.”
Jane Hume, a Moderate who has at times been critical of Ley, said the opposition leader retained her support, as the party finalises its stance on emissions reduction on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
“She absolutely does have my support. I’m looking forward to Wednesday. She can navigate us through this. I have no doubt that she can,” Hume said.
Ley has overseen record-low polling and has made a series of political attacks that have not landed, including a call for Kevin Rudd to resign as US ambassador, and a demand that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologise for wearing a Joy Division T-shirt, which was widely mocked.
