Josh Frydenberg responds to leadership questions in event of hung parliament

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has responded to questions about his potential prime ministership as the federal election draws closer.

Josh Frydenberg has declined to reveal his plans should the upcoming federal election result in a hung Parliament, as he took aim at what he called “fake independent” candidates.

The Treasurer and deputy Liberal leader on Sunday declined to say whether he would take over the Liberal party leadership if the Coalition fails to win enough seats next month to form a majority government.

If neither the Coalition or Labor wins the 76 seats required for an absolute majority, the party who governs will have to negotiate with crossbench MPs to do so.

Interviewed on the ABC’s Insiders program, Mr Frydenberg avoided answering directly two questions of whether he would be prepared to step up to the prime ministership to help his party secure another term in office.

“Well, obviously we’re hoping to win the election and striving to win the election in our own right,” he said.

“With respect to the independents, firstly, they’re fake independents and these independents … they’re all having their strings pulled elsewhere.”

Mr Frydenberg also wouldn’t be drawn on whether his government would introduce new taxes over the next three years if re-elected.

“Our future is about lower taxes. We’re always looking for opportunities to cut taxes,” he said, while avoiding questions about future tax reform.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has responded to questions about his potential prime ministership. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Frydenberg’s interview followed high profile independent MP Zali Steggall’s appearance on the ABC’s Q+A program on Thursday night in which she said she held grave concerns about Scott Morrison’s leadership.

Ms Steggall signalled she would be more likely to support the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament if Mr Morrison was no longer the Prime Minister, saying “that is obviously an open possibility”.

Ms Steggall holds the formerly blue ribbon Sydney electorate of Warringah which she wrested at the 2019 election from former prime minister Tony Abbott.

She is one of seven crossbench MPs in the House of Representatives, where the Coalition holds 76 of the 151 seats to Labor’s 68 seats.

Independent MP for the federal electorate of Warringah Zali Steggall (left) with the independent candidate for the seat of Mackellar, Sophie Scamps. Picture: Supplied

Ms Steggall brushed off Mr Frydenberg’s criticisms later on Sunday, saying the only thing that was “fake” was the Morrison government’s commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“If I wanted to be Liberal or Labor I would run for preselection by either party, but that’s not what I’m doing,” she told NCA NewsWire.

“Warringah has elected an independent and that is clearly what they want. independents are able to focus on serving their community without being distracted and held back by back room games and preselection chaos.”

Liberal MPs are at this election facing a significant challenge from a swag of independent candidates who are targeting “small l” liberal voters and campaigning on climate change, political integrity and women’s safety.

Climate activist Simon Holmes a Court is helping to bankroll at least 18 of the 2022 campaigns including those of high profile political hopefuls Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spender and Monique Ryan.

Mr Frydenberg is being challenged in his inner Melbourne Liberal heartland seat of Kooyong by Dr Ryan, a paediatric neurologist who was once a member of the Labor Party more than a decade ago.

Mr Frydenberg on Sunday claimed all the independents were acting “as a political party” with the “implicit support” of the Labor opposition.

The next government – whether it is Coalition or Labor – is staring at a forecast 10 years of government deficit and the question of how to fund expensive social reforms without making the politically unpopular move of raising taxes.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers on Sunday insisted the opposition could find other ways to fund its commitments “responsibly”.

“We’ve made it very clear, that we don’t have any proposals for tax increases beyond working with other countries to make the multinational tax regime fairer,” he told Sky News.

Mr Morrison is yet to call an election but it must be held by the end of May.