Josh Frydenberg was urged to challenge ‘toxic’ Scott Morrison for leadership before election

Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has broken his silence, confirming he was asked to challenge Scott Morrison for the leadership before the election.

Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg shut down any discussion of a leadership challenge last year after MPs suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s brand was toxic.

Liberal MPs have revealed Mr Frydenberg was “very loyal” and perhaps “loyal to a fault” towards Mr Morrison, who he lived with during the pandemic at the Lodge.

But he and his supporters now believe that it may have been a mistake to run Morrison full-term, which allowed the RAT test mess to unfold over Christmas.

This fatally wounded the government and allowed ‘teal’ independents more time to establish name recognition in their seats.

The former Treasurer has told news.com.au he was approached to challenge the Prime Minister for the top job but told MPs he couldn’t be a part of that.

It’s the first time he’s ever confirmed that he was involved in such discussions late last year.

“I was approached by some colleagues late last year, but I quickly made it clear a challenge was not on,’’ he said.

Moderate MPs who approached him included Dr Fiona Martin who lost the seat of Reid at the May 21 election.

Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

The defeated Treasurer has been branded as “loyal to a fault” by Liberal MPs. Picture: David Caird.

Dr Fiona Martin told news.com.au that she did urge Mr Frydenberg to challenge.

“I just wanted to ensure that our party could win at the next election. I thought that Josh Frydenberg was a natural leader,’’ she said.

“And the next leader of the party. I am a moderate. I thought we should be leading from the centre.”

“He’s very charismatic. He was an excellent Treasurer. He has so much talent there and it’s a great loss to our country to see him go and I hope, I really hope he comes back one day.”

Mr Frydenberg is believed to have dropped more than $1 million on trying to save his seat of Kooyong where he was up against a well-resourced campaign funded in part of millionaire Simon Holmes a Court and multiple paid staff.

He estimates the independents spent $2 million winning the seat from the Liberal Party.

Speculation has also arisen in recent weeks that Mr Frydenberg should be parachuted back into politics via the Victorian seat of Aston which is currently held by former education minister Alan Tudge.

The emergence of that idea coincided with Mr Tudge ending his self-imposed media interview ban this week with a series of post-election interviews including one on Sky News where he dismissed the idea he would stand aside.

“I’ve just been re-elected,’’ Mr Tudge said.

“At the moment I am the only Liberal in Victoria and I intend to stay in this seat. and do my best to support the rebuilding of the Coalition.”

There has been speculation Mr Frydenberg could be parachuted into Alan Tudge’s seat of Aston. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage.

Mr Frydenberg told colleagues last year that he would not countenance any discussion of a leadership coup against Mr Morrison.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said he was one of a number of moderate MPs who approached Frydenberg with the idea of a leadership coup.

“As a matter of course, colleagues always consider ongoing electoral viability,” he told the Nine newspapers.

But former NSW Liberal MP Jason Falinski, who lost his seat of Mackellar in NSW, dismissed the idea a coup had been discussed.

“At no point was I involved in any discussion that talked about transitioning to a new leader,” he told news.com.au.

Mr Frydenberg became increasingly frustrated during the campaign that one of the biggest challenges he had in Kooyong was that voters had turned against Mr Morrison and the backlash in his own seat was being driven by anger towards the Prime Minister.

Mr Frydenberg was also appalled by references to the Holocaust by Liberal Katherine Deves on social media when discussing transgender people.

Colleagues say he thought the “whole thing was rubbish” and “unnecessary distraction.”

“We just got hurt by the RAT tests over Christmas,’’ a colleague said.

The ex Treasurer lost his seat to Dr Monique Ryan. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images.

Mr Frydenberg’s own polling had him behind in Kooyong during the campaign, prompting him to do the front-page article in the Herald Sun warning voters that he was at risk of losing his seat.

The big issues in the seat were Scott Morrison, climate, women, an integrity commission and that “all came behind the candidate” Independent Monique Ryan.

“When tide is going out, it doesn’t matter how hard you swim,’’ Mr Frydenberg said after the election.

Dutton expected to lead liberals

Peter Dutton is expected to stand unopposed in the contest for the next leader of the Liberal Party.

Ruling herself out of contention to serve as deputy leader, former home affairs minister Karen Andrews said she had a “geographical” issue as both are from Queensland and as such she would also not stand for deputy.

Former environment minister Sussan Ley is expected to emerge as deputy following speculation Victorian MP Jane Hume might also put her hand up.

Peter Dutton is expected to become the next leader of the Liberal Party. Picture: Zak Simmonds.

But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and WA Premier Mark McGowan are already lining up to attack Mr Dutton as an “extremist” and “not that smart.”

“I’m trying to be as polite as possible. He’s made a whole range of comments about Victoria,” Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.

“You guys need to remember this. It wasn’t that long ago when these people were running around saying we’re all going to get murdered by an African gang and we couldn’t go out for dinner.”

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said on Monday that Mr Dutton would not be a fit Prime Minister.

“He’s an extremist, and I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all,” Mr McGowan said.

“He doesn’t seem to listen, he’s extremely conservative and I actually don’t think he’s that smart.

“As opposed to Scott Morrison, who is a clever guy, I don’t pick up that Peter Dutton is fit to be Prime Minister.”

Originally published as Josh Frydenberg was urged to challenge ‘toxic’ Scott Morrison for leadership before election