Sussan Ley shrugs off another preselection challenge

The New Daily
Jul 23, 2023, updated Jul 24, 2023

Opposition urges athletes to boycott govt photo ops

It was a case of deja vu all over again for deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley on Sunday, after it was revealed she faces another preselection challenge in her seat of Farrer.

The most senior female politician in the Liberal Party faced a similar challenge before the 2022 federal election after accusations of branch stacking, before former prime minister Scott Morrison intervened.

At the time, Mr Morrison said his intervention was necessary to support female MPs against “factional games in the Liberal Party”.

Speaking to ABC TV’s Insiders program, Ms Ley said she was proud of her record, but admitted the challenge, which aims to have her replaced as the Liberal candidate for her seat at the next election, was “unusual” given her senior position in the party.

She added she was confident in the full support of Liberal leader Peter Dutton.

“Rank-and-file preselections absolutely should have their place, and if I go through that, I go through that,” she said.

“I’m very happy to put myself forward on my record as the Liberal member of my seat of Farrer for 22 years.”

However, the challenged deputy Liberal leader also had one of her own for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

She doubled down on her call for the PM to explore “creative solutions” to resolve Victoria’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and restore Australia’s reputation on the global stage.

“There is no leadership from this Prime Minister,” she said.

“By the way, where is Anika Wells? The Sports Minister … happy to pop up in a photo op with the Matildas during the week.

“But nowhere to be seen, missing in action. There really is an issue of Australia’s international reputation.

“I don’t accept that as our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese can simply step back and take no responsibility.”

She also called on Australian athletes to forgo any photo opportunities with Labor MPs until the situation is resolved.

“There should be a really strong message going to the Prime Minister. Already there is one going to [Victorian Premier] Daniel Andrews, that this is just not good enough,” she said

“I have a suggestion for all the athletes – don’t have your photo taken with any Labor MPs until this gets sorted out.”

Ms Ley has held the regional NSW seat of Farrer since 2001, and served as a minister under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Morrison.

Former immigration minister and Morrison ally Alex Hawke and the member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh, also face preselection challenges in their western Sydney electorates.

Mr Hawke also reportedly faces a challenge on top of an expulsion motion for his role in the controversial preselection process that plagued the NSW branch before the 2022 election.

Mr Hawke’s failure to attend branch meetings delayed the selection process, meaning candidates weren’t put into the field until just weeks before the election.

-with AAP