Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has endorsed Andrew Hastie as a future leader of the Liberal Party, amid internal divisions over migration and climate policy. Price told 2GB on Wednesday that Hastie's critics see him as a threat because of his effectiveness.
Hastie, the shadow home affairs minister, warned in an Instagram post that the party 'might even die as a political movement' if it fails to curb net overseas migration. He linked high migration to a housing demand crisis, despite Treasury forecasts showing net migration slowing to 262,000 this year.
The former SAS captain has faced internal backlash for his freelance policy campaigns on net zero and manufacturing. He recently threatened to quit the frontbench if the party recommits to net zero by 2050, and lashed out at 'nameless cowards' providing anonymous quotes to the media.
Price, who was dumped from the shadow frontbench this month for refusing to support Sussan Ley's leadership, declined to endorse Ley again. She vowed to continue fighting alongside Hastie to abandon net zero, saying the party 'doesn't have much in way of policy'.
Liberal MPs Garth Hamilton and Henry Pike have also publicly backed Hastie as a future leader. Guardian Australia reports two other Liberal MPs share this view, fueling speculation Hastie is positioning for a leadership challenge.
