Liberal’s to launch review; Sussan Ley to nominate for deputy leader

An internal review of the Liberal’s brutal loss will delve into the teal independents, as Sussan Ley nominates for deputy leader.

The internal post-mortem of the Liberal’s crushing federal election loss will focus on the “long-term” challenge of the teal independent invasion and the selection of candidates among other issues, the party has confirmed.

It comes as Sussan Ley seeks to become only the second female deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

The Farrer MP has confirmed she will formally nominate for the deputy role alongside Peter Dutton as leader when the Liberal party room meets on Monday.

Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Ley said she felt “energised and enthusiastic” about rebuilding the Liberal Party after the “sobering” election loss on Saturday.

“I’m putting my hand up for the position, obviously if I’m successful I will have more to say about the approach we take,” she said.

“But I want to reconnect with the community that we represent, and I want to win back our support.”

Sussan Ley MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The review of the 2022 campaign, officially established on Thursday, will be conducted by former Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane and Senator Jane Hume.

According to the Liberal Party, the review will examine the long-term challenge for the party presented by “independents running in” and winning seats, the party’s performance across different segments, and “the selection of candidates”.

Liberal and Liberal-aligned MPs, including Queensland’s Karen Andrews and Angie Bell, have lamented the desertion of the party by professional, educated women.

Moderate Liberals faction leader Senator Simon Birmingham, in the aftermath of the election loss, also signalled the choices of the party to preselect Katherine Deves – who courted controversy for her trans-exclusionary views during the campaign – in the once blue-ribbon seat of Warringah.

The review is open to submissions until the end of June.

“In undertaking this important review, we will consult widely across all parts of the Party. We welcome input from all Party members and encourage submissions from all involved in the campaign,” Mr Loughnane and Senator Hume said.

Anthony Albanese has much to be happy about. Labor is a seat away from a majority government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Taylor

LABOR A SEAT AWAY FROM MAJORITY GOVT

Labor is one seat away from forming a majority government after retaining the Lyons electorate in Tasmania.

MP Brian Mitchell’s victory, called by the ABC’s election analyst Antony Green on Thursday afternoon, takes Labor to 75 seats in the House of Representatives.

Labor remains confident it can secure the 76 seats it needs to form a majority and govern in its own right without needing to rely on the crossbench.

ALBO’S PRIVATE CALL WITH MACRON

Newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had a “very positive” conversation with the French President in a sign relations between the two countries could be thawing.

The freshly-minted Australian leader confirmed while speaking on Sky News on Thursday that Emmanuel Macron reached out shortly are his election victory.

Though, he said he would not be “leaking” the details of their conversation.

It comes after Scott Morrison’s office was accused of leaking a text exchange between the two leaders to the media last year after Mr Macron called the former prime minister a liar over his cancellation of a submarine contract.

Relations have been tense between Australia and France since late last year. Picture: Adam Taylor

Relations have been tense between the two countries ever since, but Mr Albanese indicated he is hopeful of a fresh start.

“President Macron and I will develop a strong relationship, I’m confident of that,” he said.

Mr Albanese later described his conversation with the French leader as “very positive” while on ABC News Breakfast.

“I have had an exchange with the President of France and it was a very positive exchange, and I have been overwhelmed by the positive response that I have received,” he said.

China’s Premier Li Keqiang has also congratulated Mr Albanese on his election victory and said he hoped there would be “sound and stable” relations between the two countries going forward.

Mr Albanese said he would respond to the Premier’s message “appropriately”.

“I welcome all of the congratulations that I have received from around the world. We will act diplomatically and appropriately in all our dealings with other nations,” he said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes there will be ‘sound and stable’ relations between Australia and China. Picture: WANG Zhao / POOL / AFP)

But Mr Albanese went on to say China needed to dump the trade tariffs it has imposed on Australian exports.

“I have said that the sanctions that have been placed on Australian exports going to China need to be withdrawn,” he said.

“There is no justification for these sanctions which have hurt the Australian economy and hurt Australian jobs.”

Mr Albanese also said he has had conversations with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, while he would be welcoming his “friend” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Australia “very soon”.