Opposition leader Sussan Ley promises ‘fresh approach’ after election disaster

Opposition leader Sussan Ley says there are ‘no scapegoats’ post-election as she declares a fresh start for the Liberal party.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley says there are “no scapegoats” for the Liberals’ disastrous election result in her frontbench, declaring she brought in new faces as part of a “fresh approach”.

Net zero emissions will present an early first test for Ms Ley, with Coalition backbenchers openly declaring their intention to challenge the party room’s support for the policy.

Nationals’ Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan have publicly vowed to campaign against net zero, while a Liberal source said there was a “small, but dedicated” group of MPs in the party room planning to agitate internally.

Ms Ley has promised to make “consultation” central to her approach with colleagues, but said her team knew Australia “must reduce emissions”.

“But we must have a stable, reliable energy grid and that’s the perspective that I will bring to the policy development, in this space,” she said.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley says there are no scapegoats for the Liberals’ disastrous election result in her frontbench. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Ley this week elevated seven Liberals into her shadow cabinet, including two women — South Australian Senator Kerrynne Liddle and Queensland MP Angie Bell — though she demoted four senior women.

Under pressure to explain dumping former finance spokeswoman Jane Hume, who has been blamed by colleagues for the Liberals’ unpopular work from home policy, Ms Ley said there were “no scapegoats” post-election.

“It’s a new term in parliament, it’s a new leader, and we are going to do things differently,” Ms Ley said.

The freshly reformed Coalition is desperate to move on after a fortnight of leadership drama and infighting over the temporary split between the Liberals and Nationals, but focus has remained on the winners and losers of the reshuffle.

Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price stunned some colleagues by revealing she was “disappointed” with missing out on a shadow cabinet position, despite still having a significant role in the Coalition’s outer ministry.

Ms Price also said not all the appointments were based on “experience” or “merit”.

Sussan Ley elevated seven Liberals into her shadow cabinet this week. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

One Liberal MP said they thought it was “ungracious” to complain in any way after being handed a key position.

Meanwhile new Coalition finance spokesman James Paterson said he understood Ms Price’s disappointment at not being in shadow cabinet, but as defence industry and personnel spokeswoman she still had a “significant and senior role”.

Mr Paterson said merit was the “most important” factor in a reshuffle, but a balance of states, genders and ideology was also considered.

“That’s no different for Labor or Liberal and it is a messy process sometimes,” he said.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson, who was also ousted from shadow cabinet, said she was disappointed “a number of high-performing” women were overlooked.

“I am more determined than ever to fight for Australian women, which must start with a comprehensive policy platform,” she told ABC.

Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler, who was demoted as well, said she would take the opportunity to speak up on issues from the backbench.

“Returning to the backbench provides me with the freedom to confront difficult issues … and importantly represent the views of my constituents and the Australian women who feel let down, not just by the Liberal Party, but by all parties in the federal parliament,” she said.

Originally published as Opposition leader Sussan Ley promises ‘fresh approach’ after election disaster