The Coalition is split, and it will remain that way. Finger‑pointing is persistent though, the Nats blaming the Liberals, the Liberals blaming the Nats, and both questioning each other’s leadership. Joining me live now is the Shadow Immigration Minister, part of the LNP in Queensland but sitting in the Liberal Party room in Canberra, Paul Scarr. Paul, great to see you. Thanks so much for your time. Can you explain what is going on? Are we jumping at shadows here? I mean, I feel like the Australian public is used to these kinds of spills in Canberra, they have become more common on the conservative side of politics. Is Sussan Ley going to stay or go?
Senator Scarr
Well, Sussan has my 100% support. There is obviously a lot of speculation in the media now, but no one has announced a challenge, no one has announced an intention to call a spill. So, from my perspective, Sussan’s the leader of the Liberal Party, and we need to work together as a team to do everything we can to hold the government to account and develop that suite of policies to take to the next election.
Laura Jayes
But Paul, we have seen this movie before. I feel like this is the “embattled phase” for the leader before she becomes a former. It has been variously described this morning as farcical, whether there is going to be a spill and how it is being organised behind the scenes. Do you see it that way?
Senator Scarr
Well, no one has called me in relation to a potential spill. So, when you talk about what is going on behind the scenes, I do not know what is going on behind the scenes. From my perspective, we just must be focused, really focused. The political imperative has to be holding the Labor Government to account, developing that suite of policies to take to the next election. We have a moral obligation to be a strong, united opposition.
Laura Jayes
How do you do that when this speculation is persistent? Sussan Ley needs to take, and she needs to get, authority from the party to be able to do the things that you explained so well this morning: holding this government to account, because there is plenty of work in that space. So how do you bring this to a head? Parliament sits on Tuesday; you will have your party room meetings. This elephant is in the room. What do you suggest drawing a line in the sand? Because without authority, she cannot do the things that you need her to do.
Senator Scarr
Absolutely, and now, she is our democratically elected leader. She handled a difficult situation last week with great responsibility. She acted in the national interest. We needed to pass that legislation in the national interest. We got additional safeguards; we built additional guardrails into that legislation. She consulted with colleagues, and she stood up for the principle of shadow cabinet solidarity, which she needed to do. So, I think Sussan has done everything expected of her and deserves our full support.
Laura Jayes
Do you think Andrew Hastie wants the job?
Senator Scarr
Well, that is something for Andrew Hastie to discuss. I am not going to speak for Andrew Hastie in this context, it is up to Andrew to decide what he wants to do. But now there has been no announced challenge, and there has been no announced intention to seek a spill. So, now, there is a lot of sound and fury, but really it signifies nothing.
Laura Jayes
When you see the Coalition split like this, a second time this term, it makes it particularly hard for people like you in Queensland, who sit under the LNP banner. That means the party structure is very much intertwined. How difficult does it make it for you to hold your seat and campaign in the next election? I know you are in the Senate, but you have a big job to do on behalf of your party. Do you think, Paul, that perhaps everyone should calm down, let the split happen, let people campaign and be all things to the people in their electorates, and then maybe talk about coming back together before the next election or after?
Senator Scarr
Well, look, I will make a number of points, and I notice that last comment you made about coming together. I think, we need to come together. I represent the state of Queensland. I saw what division on the non‑Labor side of politics resulted in, in my home state of Queensland, when One Nation secured a number of seats in the lower house in 1998. We lost the Borbidge–Sheldon Government, which was an extremely good government and did lots of positive things for Queensland. All that happened was we secured a long‑term Labor government which drove us into debt and led to all sorts of deteriorations of government services, especially in our rural and regional areas. So, I have seen firsthand what division on the non‑Labor side of politics causes. In terms of the Liberal National Party, which is one of the reasons we came together, because division on the non‑Labor side of politics does not work. I have incredibly good working relationships with all my colleagues in the Liberal National Party, including those who sit in the National Party room. And when we have our state convention or state council, we come together and work together, and that is the way it should be.
Laura Jayes
I have had an email exchange in recent days with a gentleman called Colin Walker. He is in his eighties now, but he used to work for the Joh Bjelke‑Petersen Government, and he is looking at the current display with absolute dismay. The broad point he makes is that there needs to be leadership. There needs to be a set of rules that you follow, and most people do not appreciate or understand the history.
Senator Scarr
Oh, well, that is right, and the people of Australia are rightly focused on the outcomes. One of the outcomes we need to work towards is being a cohesive, united opposition, holding the Labor Government to account and developing that suite of policies based on our values to take to the next election. That must be our focus. And as I said, that is not just a political imperative; it is a moral obligation we have as the opposition.
Laura Jayes
Yeah, well, Colin argues this is a repeat of the Queensland example. And, you know, what they see is their right to exercise their votes and vote against what is dear to them. But look, we are going to have further conversations, Paul, I do not think this is the end of it. We appreciate your time today. Thanks for joining AM Agenda.
Senator Scarr
Thanks, Laura.
