Leaders say their prayers before political blowtorch
Tess Ikonomou and Grace Crivellaro |
Federal politicians are marking the return of parliament with a traditional church service while some are praying the coalition gets back together.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have arrived at St Paul’s Anglican Church for the service in Canberra on Tuesday morning.
Parliament was recalled early in January to pass hate crime laws in response to the Bondi massacre in December, but officially resumes later on Tuesday for the fortnight.
Uncertainty remains over Ms Ley’s leadership following the coalition’s rupture, brought forward by Nationals leader David Littleproud due to disputes over those laws.
Mr Littleproud on Monday saw off a bid from Queensland backbencher Colin Boyce to challenge his leadership of the Nationals, with the spill motion failing to get the backing it needed for a formal vote to be held.
He and Ms Ley held peace talks to negotiate reuniting the coalition on Tuesday night, with the Nationals leader saying talks were ongoing.
“We’ll keep working through it, but that’s the determination our party room will get to,” Mr Littleproud told reporters as he entered the church service.
Liberal MP Andrew Wallace said he was “hoping and praying” the coalition gets back together, however “divine intervention” was needed for that to happen, Liberal MP Scott Buccholz said.
Mr Albanese led a reading at the church service, calling for love, peace and showing honour to one another.
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection,” he said.
In a gospel reading, Ms Ley encouraged people to stay faithful and not stray into the wilderness.
Her leadership team will look to put the pressure back on Labor with economists tipping the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates on Tuesday.
Ms Ley will likely face a challenge of her own this fortnight with Angus Taylor believed to be eyeing off the Liberal leadership.
Monash University head of politics Zareh Ghazarian said the next two weeks will be setting up the leaders’ respective “political fortunes”.
“I’m not sure Labor needs to do anything as the coalition well and truly dissects itself for defeat,” he said.
“The Labor Party and the rest of Australia will be looking to see how the coalition tries to position itself as parliament starts for the year.”
Dr Ghazarian said the role of opposition leader was always going to be a tough gig following the heavy election loss at the 2025 federal poll.
AAP
