Sussan Ley Fights for Survival as Leadership Coup Speculation Reaches Fever Pitch: “I’m Completely Confident” I’ll Still Be Leader by Year’s End
- Ley denies she’ll be toppled as opposition leader, despite internal tensions over net zero commitment
- Nationals’ decision to dump climate target sparks fears of Coalition split
- Ley’s detractors claim leadership challenge is “almost unavoidable” in the new year
- Conservative firebrands Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor emerge as potential challengers
In a desperate bid to quell speculation about her leadership, Sussan Ley has launched a defensive media blitz, declaring she is “completely confident” she will still be opposition leader by the end of the year.
But despite her bravado, internal tensions within the Liberal Party are running high, with moderates and conservatives at odds over the party’s direction on net zero. The Nationals’ decision to formally abandon the 2050 target has sparked fears of a Coalition split, and Ley’s detractors are circling.
As the party prepares to meet and determine its position on net zero, Ley is walking a tightrope, trying to placate both sides of the debate. But her refusal to make a “captain’s call” on the issue has only added to the speculation about her leadership.
In a series of interviews, Ley reiterated her commitment to developing a “serious, credible policy agenda”, but her words were laced with a sense of urgency and desperation. “I have a smile on my face as I answer this, because I know that the media and commentary does get a little bit excited from time to time,” she told ABC radio.
But not everyone is convinced by Ley’s confidence. Senior Liberal James Patterson warned that the net zero issue needed to be resolved quickly, so the opposition could focus on the government’s performance. “Frankly, the energy policy has been relatively unexamined in recent times because we have been distracted,” he said.
As the leadership speculation continues to swirl, Ley’s colleagues are beginning to speak out. Conservative firebrand Andrew Hastie and former shadow treasurer Angus Taylor have emerged as potential challengers, and insiders claim a leadership spill is “almost unavoidable” in the new year.
But Ley remains defiant, insisting that she will not be swayed by speculation about her leadership. “This is actually not about me,” she said. “It is about developing a serious, credible policy agenda.” Only time will tell if she can survive the storm brewing within her own party.