Sussan Ley ‘vegetarian’ text reveals grubby depths of Liberals woes | Samantha Maiden
I cannot think of a better way to explain the Libs’ dire dysfunction than this text sent about Sussan Ley, writes Samantha Maiden.
Analysis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Analysis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
To understand the thrilling and grubby depths of the unpleasantness swirling inside the Liberal Party these days, perhaps it is best captured by a text sent this week alleging Sussan Ley is a vegetarian.
As she announced her new front bench, there was much speculation regarding whether or not Ms Ley and the Nationals leader David Littleproud could play nicely.
“After last week’s bitter break-up, how can voters be sure that this partnership will be sustained, given you’ve come to this party room a bit like two parents who couldn’t decide in a divorce who looks after the kids,’’ Nine’s Andrew Probyn helpfully asked.
The Liberal leader wasn’t having it.
“I don’t accept the word ‘bitter’ and people have used this ‘break-up’ terminology,’’ Ms Ley replied.
“Personally, David and I will be friends. I think a woman who got her start in the shearing sheds of western Queensland can always find something to talk about over a steak and a beer.”
It was that reference to Ms Ley enjoying a beer and steak, however, that had her Coalition critics in a complete froth.
“She’s a vegetarian LOL,’’ insisted one Liberal.
“She’s now lying about meat!”
For anyone who cares, that’s not quite right.
Apparently, she was but now isn’t, happily chowing down with steaks, chops, cutlets and heaven knows what else whenever she pleases.
But it does underline the beef – sorry it was hard to resist making this gag – inside the Coalition about the road out of the fresh hell they find themselves in.
The big shock in the shake-up of frontline faces was that the architect of the work from home policy, Victorian Jane Hume, has been dumped from the front bench.
As the dust settles from the shake-up, Liberals have pointed out there are now fewer women in the shadow cabinet than under Peter Dutton.
That’s because Ms Ley has dumped Victorians Ms Hume and Sarah Henderson from the frontbench, as well as Tasmanian Claire Chandler, while demoting Senator Jacinta Price.
There are now eight women in a 27-strong shadow cabinet – an enormous frontbench given the dwindling size of the opposition ranks in parliament.
By comparison, there were 11 women in Mr Dutton’s 23-strong shadow cabinet prior to the election of Sussan Ley, although a large number of new faces have been promoted to the outer ministry.
“I feel for Jane Hume, she’s just collateral damage,’’ a Liberal MP and supporter of Angus Taylor in the leadership ballot said.
But Senator Hume’s position is particularly curious, because while Mr Taylor’s group believes she voted for him in the secret ballot, Ms Ley’s supporters insist the moderate voted for her.
A similar mystery has emerged over exactly who Senator Hume has voted for in previous ballots, leading to questions over her factional allegiances.
A regular on Channel 7’s Sunrise, she angered colleagues during the election over her claim “Chinese spies” were working at voting booths for the ALP, along with the work from home debacle.
She also emerged in 2022 and in 2025 as a potential candidate for the deputy leadership.
“We think Jane did vote for Sussan. It’s not a punishment,’’ a supporter of Ms Ley said.
But other MPs claim there was a falling-out between the two women, amid claims Senator Hume had accused Ms Ley’s faction of backgrounding against her.
Speaking in Canberra, Ms Ley denied that the decision to dump Senator Hume was a “get square” for the moderate MP backing Angus Taylor.
As expected, the high-profile Senator Price has been relegated to the outer ministry and will not sit in the shadow cabinet.
If Senator Price had stayed with the Nationals, she would likely have been expected to secure the role of deputy and a frontbench role.
Senator Price, who had originally left the Nationals and defected to the Liberal Party to support and run for deputy leader, takes on the defence industry portfolio.
Senate leader Michaelia Cash will take on the prized foreign affairs role, going head to head against Senator Penny Wong.
Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien will take on the role of treasury spokesman while leadership aspirant Angus Taylor has been shifted from shadow treasurer to defence.
James Paterson has been promoted to the Coalition spokesman for finance, government services, and the public service.
Future leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie, who had asked to move from defence into an economics or social services role, has been promoted to the spokesman for home affairs.
Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack have been hit with demotions from the frontbench.
Mr McCormack has spicily refused to rule out a return to the Nationals leadership, adding he would be foolish to run “a red line” through the idea.
He said it would be silly to rule out ever returning to the leadership in the future amid the utter chaos in Coalition ranks.
“Oh, it depends under what circumstances,’’ he said.
“I’m not going to return to the leadership. I’m not gonna put my name up there just to be knocked off or make a gig in myself. I wouldn’t do that.”
A gig, as defined by Eton slang, is a foolish person or an odd person.
Amid reports that Nationals MPs Barnaby Joyce has privately suggested Mr McCormack should return to sort out the Coalition mess, he admitted journalists ask him “all the time.”
“I mean, it would be stupid to actually draw a red line in your name forever more because you never know,’’ Mr McCormack said.
“Politics is very fluid, and particularly in modern politics, where things just happen very, very quickly.”
Campbell: Coalition in danger of becoming permanent losers
If the experience of the Liberal Party at the 2022 state election in Victoria showed, there’s nothing so damaging to a political party’s prospects than a belief among voters it doesn’t matter what they say, they just can’t win.
Vote now: Coalition only the latest victim of our divorce epidemic
Sussan Ley and David Littleproud are the right people to lead their parties, just not right for each other, writes Paul Williams. VOTE IN OUR POLL