Now that Sussan Ley, the new leader of the Liberal Party, has acted. She subsequently sacked Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from her frontbench position after Price publicly dropped support for Ley’s leadership. The announcement follows a surge of internal discord within the party as to the party’s adoption of a net zero by 2050 policy. Ley is under mounting grassroots pressure from party members. Andrew Hastie speaks frankly against the net zero policy and threatens dire electoral retribution for the party’s long-term survival.
Senator Nampijinpa Price dumped from Coalition frontbench This decision follows her long-running feud with Ley and her inability to publicly show support for the party head. Ley stressed that Price didn’t live up performance expectations for shadow ministers, proving the bar set is high. She highlighted the important function loyalty serves as part of the party apparatus.
“Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has failed the test of high standards that I have set for members of my shadow ministry,” – Sussan Ley
Growing Tensions Over Climate Policy
Hastie, the shadow minister for home affairs, has been vocal about his opposition to the net zero target, labeling it a “straitjacket for our economy and our country.” He thinks the Liberal Party needs to go all in on dumping net zero by 2050. If not, he worries that in two years he will be “out of a job.”
The urgency on this issue has been amplified since the report came out — just a week ago — with the publication of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment. The O’Connor Institute says that’s despite new modelling in the report which finds 1.5 million Australians at severe risk from sea level rises by 2050. By as early as 2030, those numbers climb to 597,000 people living in places directly inundated by these waters. Queensland is worst hit, with 18 of the 20 worst hit regions.
Hastie’s comments on the Climate Risk Assessment indicate his belief that the findings reflect “climate alarmism,” which he attributes to “politically compromised, economically insulated public servants who are running cover for Labor.”
“I said that net zero policy is a straitjacket for our economy and our country, and I believe that.” – Andrew Hastie
Leadership Challenges Ahead
The internal conflict within the Liberal Party raises questions about leadership dynamics as Hastie has been previously mentioned as a potential future leader. As discontent grows over environmental policy within the party’s rank and file, Ley’s job is looking more and more untenable.
Hastie articulated that Ley’s decision to demote Price was inevitable given her lack of support for Ley’s leadership. He emphasized the necessity of alignment with party leadership to maintain unity and effectiveness within the shadow cabinet.
“Sussan had no choice in the end because Jacinta Nampijinpa Price didn’t express support for her leadership, and one of the conditions for serving in the shadow cabinet or the outer ministry is that you support the leader,” – Andrew Hastie
