The AFR View

Ley should work with Labor to strike environmental laws balance

The Liberal Party is at a low point in its history after the election drubbing in May. But it now has a rare opportunity to help govern in the national interest.

Oct 24, 2025 – 5.21pm

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It has been a challenging week for Sussan Ley as she struggles to rebuild the economic credibility of the Liberal Party and keep the Coalition united. She began promisingly enough on Monday by delivering a speech that committed to taking a lower spending and taxing agenda to the next election.

Things went downhill from there. Ley declared on Tuesday that Kevin Rudd’s position was “untenable” and the former prime minister should be replaced as Australia’s ambassador to the United States following the awkward exchange in the Oval Office with Donald Trump over past social media posts critical of the president. She walked back those comments on Wednesday after Liberal backbench MPs – including dumped former shadow finance spokesman Jane Hume and leadership stalking horse Andrew Hastie – praised Rudd’s role in Anthony Albanese inking the landmark $US3 billion ($4.6 billion) US-Australia critical minerals pact with Trump.

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