Contenders for Liberal Party leadership positions have joined forces with the promise of fighting to rebuild and “come back strong” after the devastating election loss.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has formally announced she will be running as deputy Liberal leader after jumping ship from the Nationals.
She has joined forces with Liberal leadership challenger Angus Taylor, promising to build back stronger after the coalition’s thumping loss at the May 3 polls.
Deputy leader Sussan Ley has also announced her candidacy for the party’s leadership, with a partyroom vote due on Tuesday.
“I think we’re in a really good position to come back from this and come back strong,” Senator Price said in a video posted on social media alongside Taylor.
“I think we have such passion for this country, for our party and for our coalition as a whole.
“That’s what I think Australians need to understand, that we’re a team that’s prepared to get out and fight.”
Taylor has praised Price as someone of “great warmth, conviction and authenticity” and believes she will be a great asset to the party as it rebuilds.
“We’ve got to regroup, rebuild and get back into the fight,” he said.
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma welcomed Price into the major coalition party, while acknowledging the Nationals may feel aggrieved by her defection.
“If she’s been accepted into the Liberal party room, any of us can put our hands up as deputy leader, and I think the party room will decide that,” Senator Sharma told Sky News.
On whether Price had the potential to be a future Liberal leader, he said she would need to be shifted to the lower house to pursue that career trajectory.
Not all Liberal MPs support Taylor and Price for the party’s top jobs.
Ley has the support of the party’s moderates, with some believing a woman at the helm will help repair the party’s negative image among female voters.
Colleagues have criticised Taylor for failing to present detailed economic policy as shadow treasurer during the election campaign.
Price has been accused of stoking culture wars, highlighted by her comment to “make Australia great again” during the campaign, evoking U.S. President Donald Trump’s slogan.
The Nationals also face a leadership skirmish after Senator Matt Canavan threw his hat in the ring to spill incumbent David Littleproud from the top role.
