Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has publicly thrown her support behind Andrew Hastie as a potential future leader of the Liberal Party, intensifying the ongoing leadership tensions within the party. This endorsement emerges as Sussan Ley struggles to maintain unity among the party’s ranks.
Price’s backing of the West Australian MP comes at a time when Hastie’s outspoken campaigns on net zero emissions and domestic manufacturing policies are creating fresh divisions within the party. These moves have sparked renewed speculation about a possible leadership challenge in the future.
Leadership Speculation and Internal Divisions
Last week, Hastie made headlines by threatening to leave the shadow frontbench if the party reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This week, he criticized unnamed party members who anonymously urged him to moderate his independent policy positions.
The internal discord was further fueled by Hastie’s recent social media video advocating for a revival of domestic manufacturing. In the video, he criticized both major political parties for the decline of Australia’s car manufacturing industry, stating,
“We’re a nation of flat-white makers, when we could be making beautiful cars like this again,”
while standing beside a 1969 red Ford Falcon.
Support for Hastie’s Vision
Hastie’s “Australia-first” approach has been perceived by many within the party as an alternative policy vision, particularly since manufacturing is not part of his home affairs portfolio. Despite not contesting the Liberal leadership after the May election, Hastie has consistently expressed his ambition to lead the party in the future.
Price defended Hastie on Wednesday, suggesting that his internal critics view him as a threat due to his effectiveness.
“I think they probably see him as some kind of threat, because he is so good at what he does,”
she told 2GB. When asked about Hastie’s capability to lead the Liberal Party, Price affirmed,
“I think so.”
Broader Support and Party Dynamics
Price is not alone in her support for Hastie. Liberal MPs Garth Hamilton and Henry Pike have also publicly endorsed Hastie as a future leader in recent days. Additionally, Guardian Australia has confirmed that two other Liberal MPs share this sentiment.
Price’s endorsement comes shortly after she was removed from the shadow frontbench, following her refusal to support Ley’s leadership and her controversial comments regarding the federal government’s immigration policies.
Despite her recent demotion, Price remains committed to advocating alongside Hastie for the Liberal Party to abandon its net zero target. She criticized the party’s lack of a coherent policy agenda, stating,
“We don’t have much in way of policy.”
She emphasized the need for the party to be an effective opposition and to establish clear policy positions.
Implications and Future Prospects
The endorsement of Andrew Hastie by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and other party members highlights the ongoing leadership tensions within the Liberal Party. As the party grapples with internal divisions and policy debates, the question of future leadership remains a pressing concern.
Hastie’s focus on domestic manufacturing and skepticism towards net zero targets resonate with a segment of the party that seeks a shift in policy direction. Whether this will translate into a formal leadership challenge remains to be seen, but the current dynamics suggest that the debate over the party’s future direction is far from settled.
As the Liberal Party navigates these challenges, the support for Hastie underscores the broader ideological and strategic debates that will shape its trajectory in the coming years. The potential for a leadership contest could have significant implications for the party’s policy priorities and electoral prospects.
