Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has expressed grave concerns regarding the current state of her party, describing it as the worst she has seen in her tenure. When Parliament began its current session, Henderson had already made history. He thinks that the Liberal party is in desperate trouble, most recently following one of their worst ever Newspolls that recorded the party’s primary vote at a miserable 24 percent. Speaking on Sky News, she didn’t hold back. She said her party critically needs to re-evaluate its course and leadership.
Henderson’s plainspoken but profound comments reflect her passion for bringing authenticity to the role of parliamentarian. First, she paid deep tribute to the pain of her colleagues from Western Australia. They then had to make the trip back to Canberra after an already tiring week of double sittings. While these issues worry her, Henderson is still optimistic that the Liberals can make amends for their mistakes.
A Grim Outlook for the Liberal Party
In her interview, Henderson stated, “There’s no particular point or no particular incident. I mean I’ve been a member of parliament since 2013. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen in our party. I’ve seen a few dramas.” This assessment represents a profound level of frustration with the leadership and direction of the party at a fundamental level.
Henderson thinks that Sussan Ley, the current leader, is being cut adrift and losing the party room. She said, “I have to tell you probably really frankly, I do believe that Sussan [Ley] is losing favor. But I am a believer in miracles, we can still make this right. But things are not good.” Her statements convey a great deal of urgency and desperation but they suggest an attempt to get her party to consider its approach.
Most important, though, is that under all her frustration with the party’s direction are deep wells of hope and enthusiasm to see it improve. “All I can say to you authentically and honestly is I don’t support the way things are at the moment,” she remarked. Henderson’s candidness signals a broader concern among some members regarding the party’s future.
Divergent Views Among Colleagues
Though Henderson’s view has received lots of headlines, it is far from the consensus among her fellow mayors. Perhaps the fiercest critic of Henderson’s hasty obituary was government Senator Jane Hume who publicly countered Henderson’s claim, declaring Ley’s leadership was safe. Hume said, “I believe that Sussan has been really clear and really consistent in her messaging from the start the moment that she was elected. To be clear, she hasn’t opposed lowering emissions — far from it — but she didn’t want to do that at any cost. Her remarks indicate a belief within a faction of the party that Ley is effectively navigating the current political landscape.
Senator Dave Sharma came out in defense of Ley’s leadership, pushing back against Henderson’s allegations. Sharma noted that Sussan Ley’s position is secure, saying, “I think Sussan is well established as leader and will be with us through to the next election.” This schism inside the party exemplifies the internal struggle that exists when two opposing factions begin to form around leadership and strategy.
Challenges Faced by Western Australian MPs
Henderson expressed solidarity with her fellow members from Western Australia. They face enormous travel burdens due to their geographic remoteness from Canberra. “I do have some empathy for some of my colleagues who have raised concerns about travelling at such short notice from WA,” she stated. Her own experience of the frustrations of traversing extensive travel mirrors her empathy towards the challenges experienced by these MPs.
She recounted her recent travel experience: “I had to take an indirect flight from WA a couple of weeks ago, and I left at 10 in the morning, and I got into Canberra at 9:30 at night. So it does present some real challenges and I really do empathise with that.” This recognition of logistical challenges deepens Henderson’s promise to be aware and deferential to her coworkers’ needs.
