Australian news and politics live: Ley defends leadership as Liberal Party eyes Hastie switch
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Max Corstorphan is reporting live.
Ley grilled over energy promise with no details
Sussan Ley told Sunrise on Monday that energy prices will be more affordable under the Coalition plan.
“I’m not going to look people in the eye like Anthony Albanese did in two elections and say energy will be cheaper,” Ms Ley said, while saying energy would be cheaper under her.
Host Nat Barr stopped the Opposition Leader, saying: “You just did”.
Attempting to get back on message, Ms Ley said: “We need to build more energy.”
Ms Ley said Australia needed to start using more gas and stop exporting it to other countries to help bring prices down.
Ms Ley appeared off her game on Monday, trapping herself in multiple slip-ups. If she were hoping this interview would set her up for a good week, she might not be feeling worried.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
‘Failed’: Ley hits out over immigration
Ms Ley says Labor have “failed” Australians, allowing too many immigrants into the country without a plan.
“The country, the infrastructure, the commute to work, the schools and the hospitals are struggling to cope,” Ms Ley told Sunrise on Monday. “Labor has brought in over a million migrants with no plans to house them.”
Ms Ley refused to put a number on acceptable immigration levels, saying a number isn’t appropriate due to the different streams of immigrant intake in Australia. However, Ms Ley said Labor’s number was “wrong”.
“Every time they (Labor) give the Australian people a number, it’s the wrong number.”
Host Nat Barr asked how Ms Ley could say the number was “wrong” while refusing to give a number herself, with the Opposition Leader defending her stance by stating Labor had more information because they are in Government.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
‘Sharks are circling’: Ley responds to Hastie reports
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has responded to reports WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie is gaining support for a potential leadership spill that would see the party oust its first female Federal leader.
Sunrise host Nat Barr told Ms Ley “the sharks are circling”, mentioning reports moderate MPs are abandoning the Opposition Leader and turning to Mr Hastie.
“I won’t lose focus on the plan that I’m talking about right now, which is about people. It’s about Australians. I’m going to focus on the really important things that I’m going to be talking about every day,” Ms Ley said.
Barr put the question straight to Ms Ley: “So you’re not worried?”
“No,” Ms Ley fired back.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
