Australian news and politics live: Ley blames ‘media’ for spill speculation, Coalition can reunite 'this week’
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Liberal leadership tension sloshes over into beer tax vote
The House of Representatives is dealing with a bill to freeze excise on draught beer for two years – an uncontroversial topic, you would have thought, but in fact there’s been a string of votes on amendments, and Bob Katter claims it will kill the bush pub and Australia’s soul.
This unlikely topic has also been caught up in the Coalition chaos and Liberal leadership tension.
Five Liberals, including Andrew Hastie, sided with the Nationals on an attempt to expand the excise freeze to spirits, while the rest of their party colleagues abstained.
Mr Hastie, Ben Small, Tony Pasin, Terry Young and Tom Venning joined the Nationals and some independents for the vote.
Ley says Coalition can reunite ‘this week’
The Opposition Leader said that the Coalition, which split up after Labor was able to push through new hate speech laws in response to the Bondi terror attack, can get back together “this week”.
It is the second time since Ms Ley was appointed Liberal Leader that the Nationals, under Leader David Littleproud, have left the Coalition.
“David and I had constructive discussions on Monday night, and I expect to speak to him again today,” Ms Ley told ABC News Breakfast.
“The Coalition can reform this week, but under certain conditions, and those conditions are overwhelmingly supported by the majority of my party room.”
The Nationals are tipped to hold firm in the Coalition breakup, potentially causing further headaches for Ms Ley.
Ley points finger over leadership speculation
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says her team are not focused on removing her from her position.
Asked about reports that Angus Taylor was plotting to oust her from the leadership, Ms Ley blamed the media.
“These are ridiculous suggestions, and they’re made by people in the media,” she told ABC News Breakfast.
“(They are) not the conversations that I’m having with my colleagues, and they’re not the focus of my team, and I really mean that.
Ms Ley said for every minute she speaks about leadership speculation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is not being held responsible.
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