Anthony Albanese calls out Liberals as a ‘shambles’ after speculation about Sussan Ley’s leadership intensifies

The Prime Minister has unleashed on the embattled opposition after the Coalition collapsed earlier this month and rumours have swirled about Sussan Ley’s leadership.

Anthony Albanese visited South Australia on Saturday to announce a $800million housing deal that promises to ‘unlock 17,000 new homes’ for people in the state.

But, during a press conference, he was asked by reporters about the position of the opposition.

‘They’re a shambles and they are focused on their hatred of each other,’ Albanese said, according to Sky News. 

‘We are focused on the Australian people, their needs and the national interest.

‘You can’t fight for Australians if you are obsessed with fighting yourselves and that is what the former Coalition has become.’

Albanese went on to take aim at a secret breakfast meeting between suspected rivals to the Liberals’ top job, senior MPs Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor, in Melbourne.

The pair had met on Thursday to discuss the future of the Liberal leadership at the newly purchased $2.5million home of Ley loyalist, Senator James Paterson.

But, as the summit took place just hours before a colleague’s funeral, Albanese did not miss the chance to criticise the unfolding events.

‘This is beyond belief, frankly,’ he said on Saturday. 

‘You had a funeral to farewell Katie Allen, who was not just respected in the Liberal Party but across the board, and a bunch of blokes sitting in a house somewhere in Melbourne plotting to knock off the first female leader of the Liberal Party.’

Hastie, 43, has since announced that he was pulling out of the Liberal leadership race after he failed to rally enough support from other party members. 

‘Over the past few weeks there has been speculation about the future leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia,’ he said on Friday.

‘I’ve previously stated that I would welcome the opportunity to serve my party and our country as leader of the Liberal Party.

‘But having consulted with colleagues over the past week and respecting their honest feedback to me, it is clear that I do not have the support needed to become leader of the Liberal Party.

‘On this basis, I wish to make it clear I will not be contesting the leadership of the Liberal Party.’

It is not clear whether Paterson was acting as peacemaker, power broker, or kingmaker with his presence at the secret breakfast meeting.

He told ABC Radio National on Thursday: ‘You can assume that I continue to support Sussan.’

However, with Hastie’s withdrawal from the race, attention has shifted to whether Taylor will launch a leadership bid — and if he commands sufficient backing.

While he has not said anything on the matter, he posted a statement on social media on Friday, sharing his admiration for Hastie.

‘An individual of his abilities and principles has much to contribute on the front lines of our fight for the promise of Australia and to ensure that our best days lie ahead,’ Taylor said of Hastie.

‘My colleague and friend is a great asset to the Liberal cause, with formidable strengths and an unwavering commitment to serving our country.’

Speculation about a challenge to Ley’s leadership intensified after parliament passed laws allowing for the outlawing of hate groups and increasing penalties for hate speech in response to the December 14 Bondi Beach terror attack.

The legislation ultimately triggered the coalition’s break up after MPs from the Nationals broke with the Liberals in voting against the laws.

However, moderate figures remain largely behind Ley, believing she may avoid a challenge altogether if her opponents continue to squabble over who should run.

While they concede the party’s polling has slipped under her leadership, they argue that another round of instability would only accelerate the slide towards irrelevance.

However, Ley’s critics argue the party’s position is so dire, any change would be better than the status quo.

Sceptics caution that Taylor may not be the saviour some imagine, and dumping the first woman to lead the Liberal Party could spark a backlash far worse than the current internal unrest.

Taylor’s critics have also said he may not ‘stick the landing’ if he takes the leadership, and could further erode female support for the party.