Liberal Party in Turmoil Over Leadership and Net Zero Policy
Liberal Party stalwart Bronwyn Bishop has issued a stark warning that the Coalition’s future looks bleak amid ongoing internal conflict. She emphasized that leadership tensions will persist unless Opposition Leader Sussan Ley completely abandons the net zero emissions target.
Criticism of Sussan Ley’s Leadership
The party is visibly fractured after Senator Sarah Henderson openly questioned Ley’s leadership, expressing her inability to support the current direction. Henderson stated:
“I can't pretend things are good. We've had a dire Newspoll result, a primary vote of just 24 per cent. Things are not traveling well.”
Despite the criticism, Ley responded by expressing pride in her team but declined to address Henderson by name.
Bronwyn Bishop’s Warning
Bronwyn Bishop, a former speaker of the house and senior figure in the Liberal Party, described the situation as challenging:
“It is not looking good” for the Coalition, and she predicted that internal disunity would continue “for quite some time.”
Bishop stressed that the party will keep tearing itself apart until Ley allows "dignity to prevail" by dropping the net zero policy entirely.
Hope for Change
Senator Henderson remains cautiously optimistic despite the current difficulties:
“I do have to say, really honestly, I do think Sussan is losing support, but I do believe in miracles, we can turn things around.”
The ongoing leadership struggles highlight the deep divisions within the Liberal Party as it grapples with its future direction on climate policies.
Author’s summary: Internal conflicts over net zero policy intensify within the Liberal Party, with senior figures urging Sussan Ley to change course or risk ongoing disunity.