Andrew Hastie, a prominent figure within the Liberal Party, has put an end to the swirling rumors about his potential bid for leadership, confirming he will not vie for the top position.
Recently, Sussan Ley, the current leader of the opposition, has faced increasing pressure following a significant rift between the Liberals and their coalition partners, the Nationals. In the wake of this split, both Hastie and fellow frontbencher Angus Taylor had been regarded as possible challengers for Ley’s role.
However, Hastie clarified his stance on Friday, deciding against pursuing the party’s leadership. In a public statement, he acknowledged his prior openness to leading the Liberal Party and serving the nation in such a capacity.
“I have always said I would be honored to lead the Liberal Party and, by extension, serve our country,” Hastie expressed.
Nonetheless, after engaging in discussions with colleagues over the past week and considering their candid insights, Hastie realized that the necessary support was not in place to make a successful leadership bid.
“Given this understanding,” Hastie declared, “I want to be unequivocal in stating that I will not be entering the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party.”
Hastie had met with Taylor on Thursday in Melbourne about a potential deal to run for the party leadership, but the talks ended in a stalemate.
The Western Australian MP said he would continue to focus on immigration and energy.
“I believe that those families and our country are best served by a strong Coalition government, and I will work every day to make my party the very best version of itself,” he said.
Ley gives Nationals one week to reclaim frontbench positions
It comes as Ley gave the Nationals a week to reconcile with the Coalition before she replaces their leadership team.
Ley has appointed acting spokespeople in portfolios previously held by Nationals MPs in shadow cabinet, following the junior Coalition partner walking away from the political marriage.
Senior Liberals have been given acting roles to cover the Nationals’ portfolio areas as the party is now the sole official opposition after the split.
The Coalition splits its cabinet and ministry on a proportional basis between Liberals and Nationals.
The acting arrangements will be in place until the start of the second parliamentary sitting week in February.
Ley said she would then appoint six parliamentarians to the shadow cabinet and two in the outer shadow ministry “on an ongoing basis”.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash takes on the trade portfolio, health spokesperson Anne Ruston picks up agriculture, energy spokesperson Dan Tehan adds resources, and defence spokesperson Angus Taylor has been given veterans’ affairs.
Deputy Liberal leader and shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien has taken on the assistant treasurer portfolio, while environment spokesperson Angie Bell adds water and emergency management.
Nationals leader David Littleproud walked away from the Coalition when Ley accepted the resignations of three Nationals senators from shadow cabinet after they voted against hate speech laws.
Shadow cabinet members are required to vote in line with the agreed Coalition position or resign.
Littleproud gave Ley an ultimatum that all Nationals in the shadow ministry would tender their resignations if she sacked the three rebels, saying the decision was a collective party room one.
She accepted the dissenting trio’s resignations, resulting in the walkout.
Nationals in the lower house abstained on the vote as they sought to move amendments in the Senate, which if accepted, would have resulted in them supporting the hate speech legislation.
The Liberal leader has sought talks to reconcile the Coalition.
Littleproud has turned down a meeting at least until after a party room meeting on Monday, when he faces his own leadership challenge from rogue backbencher Colin Boyce, which is not expected to succeed.
“Following Monday’s parliamentary meeting of The Nationals, I will attempt to meet with whoever is elected as their leader,” Ley said.
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