Anthony Albanese suggests Bridget Archer should leave coalition

The Opposition Leader has made an extraordinary claim about a government backbencher, as the race for Australia’s closest electorate heats up.

Anthony Albanese says Bridget Archer should defect from the coalition, a day after the Prime Minister publicly backed her.

Ms Archer holds the northern Tasmanian swing seat of Bass with just a 0.4 per cent margin, and both Mr Albanese and Scott Morrison have visited the electorate this week in a bid to win votes.

Ms Archer played a key role in the downfall of the government’s religious discrimination laws, after she and four other MPs crossed the floor to vote with Labor to protect all LGBTIQ+ children in religious schools.

Mr Albanese, standing beside Labor’s candidate – and former Bass MP – Ross Hart on Tuesday, called Ms Archer’s intentions into question, saying she was not delivering on what she vocally supports.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to demand better protections for transgender students as part of the government’s proposed religious discrimination bill, which was ultimately scrapped. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“If Bridget Archer is fair dinkum, she’ll leave the Liberal Party,” Mr Albanese said.

“Bridget Archer’s policy on climate change is determined by Barnaby Joyce. Bridget Archer’s policy on the anti-corruption commission is determined by all those ministers who are petrified there will be (one).

“Bridget Archer is part of a government that is not delivering for the people of Bass, and not even delivering on what she says she supports.”

Mr Albanese’s comments came a week after Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said she had asked Ms Archer if she would defect and join the Jacqui Lambie Network.

Senator Lambie said Ms Archer had not taken her up on the offer.

“I’ve been very open and honest about her. I left it open to her well over 12 months ago and said, you know, if you want a bit more room to move, we certainty would be more than happy to take you on,” Senator Lambie said last week.

“But she obviously hasn’t taken up my offer. But I do wish her the very best at the next election.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind Bass MP Bridget Archer, despite her crossing the floor earlier this month. Picture: AAP Image/Sarah Rhodes

Late last year, Ms Archer crossed the floor to support independent MP Helen Haines’ Bill for a national integrity commission. Earlier this month, she spoke again, this time on indulgence about the need for working multi-partisanly to establish a federal ICAC.

Despite this, Mr Morrison threw his support behind Ms Archer again on Monday, saying he “definitely still backed” her.

“There is a difference between the Liberal and Labor Party … but in our party, we don’t throw people out, because we don’t always agree on everything,” Mr Morrison said.

“That’s the nature of the Liberal Party; it’s called Liberal for a reason.”

The seat of Bass has not had an MP re-elected in more than 20 years, with the seat considered a must-win for both parties ahead of the May election.

Mr Albanese said on Tuesday the people of Bass wanted a local member who had confidence in their party.

“(In Bass) there’s a local member who herself has said this government is no good, through her own actions,” Mr Albanese said.

“We need to get rid of the government. To get rid of the government, you need to change the representation for the people of Bass.

“They deserve better.”