Peta Credlin: Sussan Ley needs big policy issue to get Libs back in the game

The sooner Sussan Ley takes on the Albanese government on a big policy issue, the sooner the Libs will be back in the game, writes Peta Credlin.

As long as it’s reviewing its policies and accusing itself of having a “women problem”, there will be no effective opposition to a deeply underwhelming government. The sooner Sussan Ley takes on the Albanese government on a big policy issue, the sooner the Libs will be back in the game.

The most obvious one is energy. The Opposition should never have let the PM get away with his broken promise to cut household power bills by $275 a year.

Thanks to its green preoccupations, the government is running our power supply to reduce emissions not to produce affordable and reliable 24/7 electricity.

Given that the world’s biggest emitters – China, India, Russia and now the US – are not committed to Net Zero any time soon, junking it is the quickest way to end our economic self- harm.

Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

Junking Net Zero it is the quickest way to end our economic self- harm. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

Then there’s defence. As well as failing to take the advice it commissioned to increase spending, the government is crab-walking away from the US alliance to appease Beijing. The Liberals should make it crystal clear that in any conflict between Beijing and Washington, Australia will take the side of democracy over dictatorship.

The government is crab-walking away from the US alliance to appease Beijing. Picture: BAE Systems

We know that the record inflow of immigrants under this government is putting downward pressure on wages, upward pressure on housing costs and massive strain on infrastructure.

On migration too, the Liberals need a proper policy that rejects Labor’s Big Australia rather than just empty rhetoric. We know that the record inflow of immigrants under this government is putting downward pressure on wages, upward pressure on housing costs and massive strain on infrastructure but the Coalition needs a more concrete response than just criticism.

Plus, they must also tackle the issue of Australia’s anti-Semitism outbreak that’s being fuelled by poorly integrated migrant communities. Other than the dependants of existing citizens and essential workers, immigration should be paused until infrastructure can keep up and social cohesion is restored.

But to avoid alienating migrants during the heat of a campaign, the Liberals need to be making this case now.

Education does not need more funding but a more academically rigorous curriculum, more principal autonomy and more parental control. Picture: iStock

Ditto with education, which does not need more funding but a more academically rigorous curriculum, more principal autonomy and more parental control.

Reviews are all good and well, indeed necessary, but months and months of navel-gazing is an excuse for inaction and inertia.

Federally, a three-year term is very short and, given the biggest failure contributing to the Liberal Party’s wipe-out in May was not enough policy meat on the bone, it is time they got back to work.

THUMBS UP

No ‘trans-men’ in women’s prisons – for now. But unless new self-ID laws in NSW (and Vic) change, this will happen.

THUMBS DOWN

Smelter bailouts – government is about to spend billions bailing out smelters due to government policies. How about we just fix the policies and spare taxpayers?

Watch Peta on Credlin on Sky News, weeknights at 6pm

Originally published as Peta Credlin: Sussan Ley needs big policy issue to get Libs back in the game