As former treasurer Josh Frydenberg formally conceded the loss of his seat on Monday,soul searching with the Coalition began in earnest after a bloody election loss that looks set to cost the Liberal and National parties at least 17 seats to Labor,the teal independents and the Greens.
Dutton has told colleagues he will not tack to the right in a “Trumpian” fashion and pursue a sensible policy approach. With the loss of so many Liberal moderates in Saturday night’s poll,MPs expect Dutton will secure the numbers to be leader.
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The Queensland MP,who has not yet officially announced his candidacy,would be the first Liberal leader not from Sydney since Alexander Downer in 1995. Victorian MP Dan Tehan toldThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age that he would not put up his hand for the leadership.
Former cabinet minister Alan Tudgeemerged from the political wilderness to declare Dutton “will be the leader”,though some Liberals expressed reservations about the conservative Queenslander taking the reins after a steep rise in support for progressive parties and independents.
Tudge added:“There are people like Sussan Ley,Jane Hume,Michaelia Cash who are all very capable people able to assume that role[of deputy].”
Andrews’ push to be deputy could be cruelled by the fact that,like Dutton,she is a Queenslander,which could unbalance the ticket.