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Howard Backs Ley as Net-Zero Split and Slumping Polls Deepen Liberal Turmoil

John Howard urges colleagues to support Sussan Ley, warning internal bickering will stall the party’s recovery.

Overview

  • Sussan Ley faced renewed leadership questions after Senator Sarah Henderson said she is losing support, a criticism Ley declined to engage with.
  • John Howard called suggestions the party is in its worst state “foolish” and said the Coalition partnership with the Nationals remains essential.
  • Polling reported this week shows the Coalition’s primary vote at a record-low 24 percent, intensifying pressure on the leadership.
  • Liberal rivals Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie want the net-zero-by-2050 target scrapped, following the Nationals’ decision last week to abandon it.
  • Liberals will hold a sequence of meetings in Canberra next week to settle their energy and emissions stance and attempt to form a joint Coalition position, with outcomes likely to shape leadership dynamics, while commentary continues to speculate about a possible Josh Frydenberg return.