Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has defended his decision to quit the party’s leadership team and ruled out a tilt for the top job.
Announcing his resignation from the Opposition front bench on Friday, the former SAS soldier said he wanted the freedom to be more outspoken on immigration policy by sitting on the back bench.
Shadow cabinet is bound by solidarity when it comes to policy, and members can’t cross the floor to vote against an established position, while backbenchers can.
“We’re also going through a period of renewal as a party, and I want to be able to speak up on issues I care about,” Hastie told reporters in Perth on Saturday.
“In order to uphold the principle of shadow cabinet solidarity, I had to step back.
“On the back bench, I’ll continue to advocate for things I believe in.”
Hastie was the Opposition’s home affairs spokesperson, which typically includes immigration as a junior portfolio.
Liberal senator Paul Scarr, the Coalition’s immigration spokesperson, offers a more moderate voice as he pushes greater focus on multiculturalism and repairing damaged ties with migrant communities.
Price was removed from the shadow ministry after refusing to apologise for comments disparaging Indian Australians, claiming Labor was bringing in more of the diaspora to bolster its vote.
Ley and Hastie are at odds over his resignation, with the West Australian reporting he quit because he wasn’t being given a big enough say in policy.
But Ley said he didn’t raise policy matters when he called to inform her on Friday.
Asked about specifics on Saturday, Hastie said he wouldn’t get into the details.
‘I support Sussan’
The Liberals have not locked in any immigration policies as they undertake a major review following their crushing election defeat in May.
Hastie’s resignation came just days after Ley wrote to her senior team, outlining policy priorities in their portfolios and her expectations about solidarity, including in public commentary.
Hastie denied he intended to challenge Ley’s leadership and said no-one had approached him to.
“I support Sussan. I tried to do this in good faith,” he said.
“I want to give her the clear air and the opportunity to build a policy platform for the 2028 election.”
Asked if the move undermined Ley, who has been dealing with an outspoken backbench, he said the political profession was one “where convictions matter”.
“Everyone knows politics is full of uncertainty, and this is just one of those moments,” he said.
Liberal frontbencher James Paterson said he respected Hastie’s decision and his resignation “shows integrity” but cautioned the party would eventually need to unify.
“It’s not surprising after the largest defeat in the Liberal Party’s history … there’s a period of debate and introspection and discussion about the future direction of the party.
“But that can’t go on forever. That’s something that is appropriate at the start of the term, but if we’re still doing this in a year or two’s time … that will be to our political detriment.”
Liberal senator Jane Hume said while losing Hastie from the front bench was a blow, “we’re such a small and depleted team after the last election, everybody … has to stump up and pull their weight”.