Australian news and politics live: Victorian Liberals in new crisis as leader Brad Battin told to stand aside

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You can read tonight’s edition of The Nightly below:

A delegation of senior Victorian Liberals has reportedly told State Opposition Leader Brad Battin that he should stand aside.

The Herald-Sun reports newly-minted Shadow Treasurer Jess Wilson is keen to take the party’s top job, but was not part of the group that informed the leader he no longer had the confidence of the party room.

If successful, Ms Wilson, 35, will become the third Victorian Opposition leader in 11 months after Mr Battin and former Liberal leader John Pesutto.

She would also become the first woman to lead the Liberal party in Victoria.

New RSL President Peter Tinley offered support to former commando officer Heston Russell over his campaign against the ABC for broadcasting a misleading report of war crimes allegations.

Mr Tinley criticised the ABC for adding gunshots in 2022 to footage of Mr Russell flying over a village in a helicopter in southern Afghanistan during the war, an editing change that triggered outrage among many military veterans.

“This is simply not good enough from the national broadcaster,” Mr Tinley said on Monday in a written statement. “Misinformation and rushed narratives can have real-world consequences for veterans, serving personnel, affected communities and the Australian public.”

Mr Russell claimed credit for pressuring Mr Tinley, a former member of the SAS Regiment, to intervene through posts on social media. A Facebook post last week by Mr Russell calling on the RSL to support a parliamentary inquiry into the ABC received more than 2000 likes.

Mr Tinley, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, did not support an inquiry into the ABC in his comments.

“His personal statement is good but misses the main issue, which is no-one has been held accountable,” Mr Russell said.

Mr Russell said Mr Tinley had declined to speak to him about his campaign against the ABC.

An ABC spokeswoman said the national broadcaster had nothing to add to previous comments on the affair, which it apologised for in February after a report by a former ABC manager found the editing was inadvertent.

Mistakes in the program were first identified by the Seven Network’s Spotlight program.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shut down questioning of Labor’s handling of the Brittany Higgins saga after a reporter suggested Ministers Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher wrongly accused former Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds of a “political cover up”.

“Prime Minister, you pride yourself on running an accountable government, one with integrity, a federal judge and a Western Australian Supreme Court judge found claims of a political cover-up of an alleged rape were not just false but dishonest,” the reporter stated.

Mr Albanese was then asked whether Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher owe an apology for “something that has damaged so many people and cost the country?”.

“Thank you for reading that question. A judge found the issue on Brittany Higgins very different from the way that you characterise it,” Mr Albanese responded to the question at a press conference alongside Premier Jacinta Allan in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised the Coalition’s decision to abandon its net zero target saying the new policy is aimed at keeping Opposition Leader Sussan Ley in her job while her colleagues continue to undermine her.

“It is just a policy to try and get the leader of the opposition through Christmas as the leader, in spite of the fact she is being undermined each and every day by her own colleagues,” he said.

Mr Albanese said the Coalition’s internal turmoil was on full display, pointing to recent media interventions from senior figures. “I mean, what was the Angus Taylor’s double-page spread about in the Telegraph… and Andrew Hastie is out there parading around as an alternative leader as well, and then you have other people like Melissa McIntosh and others all out there putting themselves forward. There’s no discipline.”

“The Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Industry Group, all of the energy experts say that it is a mess,” he said.

He was speaking at a press conference opening the Kennedy Community Centre sporting complex.

Anthony Albanese has taken the internet by storm after attempting a viral dance trend set to the lead single from Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl.

The Prime Minister swung by Nova 100 studios in Melbourne on Monday, joining hosts Clint Stanaway and Lauren Phillips for what can only be described as a charmingly chaotic choreography lesson.

Dancing along to The Fate of Ophelia, Mr Albanese attempted a series of simple yet spirited arm gestures to the lyrics: “Keep it 100 on the land, the sea, the sky. Pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes.”

At one point, a shouted “Turn around!” prompted a confident spin from Mr Albanese, albeit in the wrong direction.

Phillips visibly cringes midway through the Prime Minister’s misstep. “This is embarrassing. I don’t know who’s the most embarrassed,” she said.

Watch the full video here.

NSW Nationals MP Dugald Saunders has announced his immediate resignation as leader of the party.

“For the past two-and-a-half years I have had the privilege of leading the NSW Nationals, today I am stepping down from that position,” Mr Saunders said in a statement.

“It’s been an honour to lead the parliamentary team during a challenging time in opposition and I’ve always done my best to represent regional NSW.

“I will continue to serve the people of the Dubbo electorate as their local member.

“It’s also the right time to allow a new leader to take up the fight ahead of the next election.”

Key backers of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have dismissed reports that members of her moderate faction in the Liberal Party are shifting support to conservative rival Andrew Hastie.

The Australian newspaper on Monday reported “a growing number of moderate Liberal MPs are pulling their support for Sussan Ley and are backing Andrew Hastie to be the next leader”.

According to the report, moderates are arguing she has caved to Mr Hastie’s agenda on dumping net zero, and the backbencher has a better chance of lifting the Coalition’s stocks electorally.

In a joint statement, Liberal Senators Anne Ruston and Maria Kovacic have declared “media reports this morning about the moderates are incorrect”.

“We, along with an overwhelming majority of our moderate colleagues, continue to strongly support Sussan’s leadership. This matter was resolved in the party room six months ago and Sussan will lead us strongly to the next election.”

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce claims key Liberal Party members are positioning themselves for a challenge to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.

Speaking on Sunrise this morning, the former Deputy Prime Minister offered advice to expected contenders Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie.

“Obviously, it does look like people are positioning themselves. I wouldn’t be telling you the truth, otherwise, would I?”

“What I would also say — it’s a 1500-metre race — be really careful where you position yourself on the first lap. It’s nothing, nobody really cares.”

“The finish line is two and a half years away, and that’s where you’ve got to be positioning yourself,” he added.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is having a rough start to the week.

Fronting Sydney’s 2GB as criticism mounts and leadership speculation grows, Ms Ley was forced to listen to an audio recording of multiple radio callers stating they wanted WA’s Andrew Hastie as leader of the Liberal Party.

After listening, Ms Ley tried to convince listeners, and likely her colleagues listening in, that she was personally unbothered.

“People are entitled to have their views. I’m not here for a sense of ego about me. Can I be really clear about that?” Ms Ley said.

“I’ve been underestimated a lot of my life. I remember when a lot of blokes told me I couldn’t fly an airplane and did a lot to keep me out of the front seat, and I flew an airplane.

“I flew a mustering plane in very small circles, very close to the ground, and that was pretty tough at the time. I did many things, have done many things, but once again it’s actually not about me, it’s about the Australian people, and they’re what motivates me every single day.”