NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Donald Trump, leadership and the price of eggs

Mark Speakman has long been touted by detractors in his party as the “wrong man for the job”, but the Liberal leader says it will be him leading the Coalition to the next state election.

Mark Speakman has long been touted by detractors in his party as the “wrong man for the job,” but Liberal leader says it will be him leading the Coalition to the next state election.

Shrugging off the attacks from the inside, the moderate barrister said he was focussed on real contest in 2027.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph after the election drubbing of the federal party last Saturday, Mr Speakman explained what he meant when he declared last week that under his leadership the party would sticking to “the middle of politics”.

However, he refused to be drawn on whether he too would do a preference deal with One Nation as had his federal colleagues, saying he would not be ruling anything “in or out” this far out from the election.

“The middle is accepting the science that climate change is happening, that it is human induced,” Mr Speakman said.

“The middle is about getting on with it and stopping arguing about different technologies. Nuclear shouldn’t be ruled out as a long-term prospect, but it’s not going to happen until the other side of 2040. We just can’t wait.

Mark Speakman on Phillip Street, Sydney. Photographer: Ted Lamb

“Solar and wind with support from gas and pumped hydro, and battery storage, that is the cheapest way to get energy. The business groups I talk to also want certainty. They want to know we are not a banana republic where the rules keep changing.”

The middle was also not being sidetracked by “culture wars”, he said, while emphasising that “a large part” of Donald Trump “did not represent traditional Liberal values”: “Donald Trump style is not my style”.

Although when asked about claims of “woke teaching” in schools, Mr Speakman said the classroom needed to remain the place for “education not indoctrination”.

There will also be no blanket bans on working from home with Mr Speakman declaring arrangements had to be “flexible”.

Elected leader after 2023 state election, the Cronulla MP has survived ongoing white-anting by both conservative and moderate colleagues, although no-one has yet managed to secure the numbers to initiate a spill.

Anthony Roberts with former premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: John Appleyard

As for united team, right-winger Anthony Roberts commented during a parliamentary debate that he would rather join the Greens rather than the moderates.

Shrugging it off, Mr Speakman said there would always be “the odd mischief maker” in politics.

“That’s for him, but I’m not going look in rear visions mirror for the odd dissident,” he said.

In preparing for the next election, Mr Speakman has established a series of working groups focused on policies, key seats and millennials with the latter made up of MPs aged under 40.

“As they turn 40, they age out,” he said.

“I’m conscious that politics is skewed to an older demographic and in all major political parties, young people are under-represented.

“That’s why I want an under 40s committee to make sure we are targeting a younger demographic, working on policy ideas. It’s an open paddock - nothing is off limits.”

Getting housing right was also crucial to wooing young voters, with Mr Speakman declaring there was capacity for greater housing near railway stations although this would require the supporting extra infrastructure, “which Minns is not providing”, he said.

Despite their ideological differences, the former attorney general said he was sorry that Peter Dutton was no longer in politics, saying he did not think the public realised how “normal” he was.

“In private, there was no hubris, no cockiness, he was quite humble,” Mr Speakman said.

As for the question on the price of eggs, Mr Speakman while he did know he never bought them.

“I eat them at cafe for breakfast,” he said.
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Originally published as NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Donald Trump, leadership and the price of eggs