‘Survivor’ Peter Dutton in prime position to lead Liberal Party

The loss of up to 10 moderate Liberal MPs is expected to hand Peter Dutton and the conservative faction greater power in deciding the leadership line-up.

Peter Dutton is expected to announce his Liberal leadership bid in the coming days Picture: Zak Simmonds

Peter Dutton is the frontrunner to replace Scott Morrison un­opposed as Liberal leader following the election bloodbath and loss of rising stars in the partyroom.

The loss of up to 10 moderate Liberal MPs is expected to hand Mr Dutton and the conservative faction greater power in deciding the leadership line-up at the next partyroom meeting.

The Australian understands frontbenchers Dan Tehan and Karen Andrews are not intending to run for the leadership, with Mr Dutton considered the sole candidate after Josh Frydenberg lost to Climate 200 teal independent Monique Ryan in Kooyong.

Angus Taylor and Ms Andrews were understood to be considering nominating as deputy leader.

Angus Taylor. Picture: Jonathan NG

After holding on to Dickson, despite a union-led campaign in the seat and a swing against the government, Mr Dutton is expected to announce his formal leadership bid in the coming days.

Chief whip Bert van Manen said a decision would be made early this week on when to hold a partyroom meeting to select a new Liberal leader and deputy leader. It was likely the meeting could be held if parliament sits next week.

Simon Birmingham, Mr Tehan, Anne Ruston, Jane Hume and Michaelia Cash are expected to retain senior roles in the leadership transition.

Amid a mood inside Liberal ranks for renewal, speculation emerged on Sunday that Marise Payne was considering retirement after 25 years in the Senate.

Mr Tehan would be a leading candidate to take the foreign ­affairs portfolio in opposition.

Multiple senior Liberal sources said it was “far too early” for potential candidates to think about leadership roles.

As the Liberal Party prepares for a new era, Mr Morrison shed tears as he addressed the congregation at his Horizon Church in Sydney’s south on Sunday. On the morning after conceding election defeat and stepping down as leader, Mr Morrison said he had experienced a “very difficult walk over the last four years”.

“God calls us, whether you’re a prime minister, or a pastor, running a business, teaching in schools, working in the police force, it doesn’t matter. We’re each called to trust and obey … That’s how we live our faith each and every day, regardless of what your job is, and to express it in how you do that.”

Karen Andrews. Picture: Mike Batterham

Dan Tehan. Picture: AAP

Asked on the Gold Coast if she was considering a leadership role, Ms Andrews said “it was way too early”.

“At this stage, the votes are still continuing. Whilst we have got an indication of who will be elected as members of the House of Representatives and incoming senators, it is way too early for there to be a discussion about that,” she said.

“At some point, the Liberal partyroom will meet and we will elect a new leader … That will be a discussion for the next few days.”

Mr Tehan said the Coalition would need to reconsider its values in a bid to attract a wider voting base moving forward.

“The clear message to us is that they obviously wanted a change and they wanted a change to the Labor Party,” he said.

 

“I think the most important thing for us to look at is where our primary vote was.

“Obviously, we’re not appealing to a broad enough church when it comes to the Australian people. We’re not going to win elections if we’ve got a primary vote as low as it was.”

Senior Liberal sources said a special partyroom meeting could be held later this week but it was more likely that it would be scheduled for when parliament returned.

“Karen Andrews, Anne Ruston, Jane Hume and Michaelia Cash will all be thinking of whether to put their hands up for deputy.

“At this point, Dutton is the only candidate for leader and the loss of so many moderates will help his chances,” a Liberal source said.

Mr Dutton, who was first elected to parliament in 2001, was narrowly defeated by Mr Morrison in the 2018 Liberal leadership spill.

That spill was sparked after Malcolm Turnbull called a leadership ballot in response to agitation by Mr Dutton and conservative MPs over the ­Nat­ional Energy Guarantee and other issues with Mr Turnbull’s leadership.