PM slams Coalition infighting as Ley leadership backed amid Price controversy

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed the Coalition’s internal conflicts as the Liberal Party rallies behind embattled leader Sussan Ley following Senator Price’s controversial exit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said liberals should prioritize making policies for Australians rather than “fighting each other.”

Referring to the clash between Sussan Ley and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, he said the Coalition is preoccupied with their own interests.

“I’m concentrating on protecting and advancing the interests of Australians,” Albanese told reporters in Cairns today.

“The Coalition are interested in fighting each other.”

Prime Minister Anthony has reacted to infighting within the Liberal Party. Picture: NewsWire Anthony Albanes

Prime Minister Anthony has reacted to infighting within the Liberal Party. Picture: NewsWire

It comes after Price was ousted from the shadow ministry over her remarks on Indian migrants, comments the PM slammed as “unacceptable.”

“Whether it be Liberals fighting Liberals, Nationals fighting Nationals, or Liberals fighting Nationals, or the LNP, not sure who they’re fighting,” the PM continued.

“I think people want both the government and an opposition that’s interested in them.

“The Coalition are very much focused on themselves.

“The comments with regard to the Indian community, quite clearly, of Senator Nampijinpa Price, were unacceptable.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemed Senator Jacinta Price’s false claims about Indian migrants. Picture: Supplied

Price speculated that the Labor Party was purposefully letting more Indian migrants into the country to win votes.

After backlash from both inside and outside her party, the Senator retracted her comment but the controversy still led to her removal from the shadow ministry.

Albanese criticised the comments, along with others who condemned them as harmful and divisive.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s controversial comments led to her removal from the shadow ministry. Picture: NewsWire

“The Indian Australian community make a great contribution,” the prime minister continued. “We need to bring people together.”

“The Liberal Party in Western Australia … continues to engage in a shift which is about promoting division.

“I think that the Liberal Party need to get their act together and speak with some coherence,” he said.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanes with Queensland Senator Nita Green in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

During the press conference, Albanese highlighted the “important role” that migration plays in the Australian economy, making it clear he was unimpressed with Price’s remarks.

It comes as Liberals insist Ms Ley has the support of the party to remain leader despite unhappiness with the handling of the stoush that lead to Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price being sent to the backbench.

Supporters and political rivals of Ms Ley have publicly and privately moved to hose down suggestions of any leadership instability following Ms Price’s sacking from the shadow ministry.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has the backing of her party, say Liberals. Picture: Chris Kidd/NewsWire

Coalition MPs widely believe the Northern Territory Senator’s failure to back Ms Ley’s position as leader made her position on the frontbench untenable, while many have bemoaned her refusal to apologise for saying Labor was letting in more Indian migrants to win votes.

But one Liberal speaking privately said while there was “no appetite” for any leadership change, Ms Ley faced a difficult next 18 months steadying the ship in the “low trust” environment that was the Coalition party room post-election defeat.

Liberals are disappointed in how the stoush over Senator Jacinta Nampjinpa Price’s comments was handled. Picture: Paul Garvey / The Australian

Multiple MPs said developing policy to unify the party would be critical for longer term unity.

Asked if her leadership was “under threat,” Ms Ley said “absolutely not”.

She also offered her own apology for Ms Price’s initial comments, having resisted doing so for several days.

“May I take this opportunity, as leader of the Liberal Party, to apologise to all Indian Australians and indeed others who were hurt and distressed by the comments that were made,” she said.

Ms Ley is still mulling her options to replace Ms Price in the defence industry portfolio, with several Liberals speculating contenders include Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler and current assistant NDIS and defence spokesman Phil Thompson.

Liberal frontbenchers Andrew Hastie and James Paterson, who are both senior figures in the party’s right, have publicly backed Ms Ley’s leadership.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says the knives aren’t out for Sussan Ley. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Hastie, who has long been touted as a future leader of the party, said the “knives are not being sharpened” against Ms Ley.

He said Ms Price’s dismissal was “inevitable” once she failed to offer support to her leader, though argued “it didn’t have to get to this point”.

“What is done is done, and it can’t be undone, and we’ve just got to move forward,” he said.

Senator James Paterson says he is disappointed with the week, but backs Sussan Ley as Liberal leader. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Mr Paterson said Ms Ley had “the overwhelming support of the party room … myself included”.

He acknowledged it had not been an “edifying week” for the Liberals since the stoush over Ms Price’s comments about Indian migrants.

“I’m very disappointed that this is where we found ourselves, because … I think (Ms Price) had a very big contribution to make on the front bench” he said.

Mr Paterson said while he was confident Ms Price would be back in a “prominent role” in “due course,” but it had been untenable for her to remain on the frontbench if she couldn’t support Ms Ley’s position.