Ley reveals fresh front bench after Hastie departure

Andrew Brown and Zac de Silva |

Just 33 per cent of people in Resolve’s poll rated Sussan Ley’s performance as good or very good.
Just 33 per cent of people in Resolve’s poll rated Sussan Ley’s performance as good or very good.

A shake up of the Liberals front bench in the wake of Andrew Hastie’s departure has been revealed by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, as her popularity plummets after weeks of infighting. 

Mr Hastie resigned earlier in October from his role as opposition home affairs spokesman in Ms Ley’s shadow cabinet following a dispute on how the party deals with climate change and immigration.

Following the resignation, Tasmanian senator Jonathon Duniam will take over the West Australian MP’s portfolio.

Jonathon Duniam
Jonathon Duniam has been elevated to the home affairs portfolio. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

“Given its direct link to the ongoing safety and security of the Australian people, the allocation of this portfolio is one of the most significant decisions a prime minister or leader of the opposition makes,” Ms Ley said in a statement.

“Senator Duniam, one of the coalition’s most talented parliamentarians, will discharge his duties with the determination and work ethic they demand.”

Senator Duniam said Australians deserved to feel safe in their communities and confident their government would uphold national security.

Julian Leeser
Julian Leeser will become the coalition’s education spokesman. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

“I thank my good friend, Andrew Hastie, for the work that he has done in this portfolio since the election and I look forward to working in the national interest to get it right for our country and its people.”

It’s the second shadow cabinet reshuffle for Ms Ley since she took over as Liberal leader following the coalition’s landslide election loss in May.

The reshuffle will see Julian Leeser take on education, while Queensland MP Andrew Wallace will become shadow attorney-general and Victorian Zoe McKenzie will become shadow cabinet secretary.

QUESTION TIME
“Sussan Ley has the toughest job in politics right now,” says one Liberal senator. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The reshuffle followed Ms Ley’s popularity falling further in opinion polls.

Just 33 per cent of voters surveyed in the latest Resolve poll rated Ms Ley’s performance as good or very good, down from 41 per cent in September.

The poll indicated 38 per cent of voters said her performance was poor or very poor – six points higher than the last reading.

Despite the poor figures, Liberal figures were quick to say a leadership spill was not imminent.

Asked about the numbers, former Liberal leader Tony Abbott said Ms Ley had his support but he didn’t want to give running commentary on her performance.

CPAC 2025 BRISBANE
Tony Abbott says a good opposition should be a strong and clear contrast to the government. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS)

The former prime minister told Nine’s Today program he was disappointed to see Mr Hastie leave the front bench, describing him as having “vast potential and promise.”

Despite the drop in Ms Ley’s personal popularity, the coalition has held steady as a whole, trailing Labor by 10 points on a two-party-preferred measure of 55-45.

AAP