Peter Dutton frontrunner for leader of Liberal Party
As Anthony Albanese is sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia and announces his cabinet, the Liberal Party is now looking to vote for another person to lead the party in the opposition.
Peter Dutton, former defence minister, has emerged as a likely candidate to lead the opposition for the next three years.
A most-likely contender to run against Dutton would also be outgoing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
Others that may put their name in the running include outgoing energy minister Angus Taylor, home affairs minister Karen Andrews and trade minister Dan Tehan.
They are however not seen as a threat.
“Until we have a field of candidates I don’t know who the leader will be but I can only assume Peter Dutton is in the ranks,” Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s an absolute star performer and a terrific defence minister.
“He, like Scott, has been unfairly maligned, but those of us who know him know what an amazing guy he is.”
Former ABC political analyst Barrie Cassidy opposed the idea of Dutton leading opposition and that the party needs to move to the centre to win back seats.
“That's a debate that will go on within the party now, and I think the answer to that probably depends on the leadership and who is the next leader of the party,” he said on The Project on Sunday.
“The party has been going more to the right and more so by the minute.”
He explained that one of their issues is that they have a problem with women, climate change, and integrity.
“Who are you going to call? Peter Dutton to fix those issues when he's ideologically opposed, not to women, but to the other issues. But if it's not him. Who else?”
“Even though it seems illogical, it could be Peter Dutton, because now, when you look at the fresh numbers, 30 or 40 per cent of the Liberal Party in the parliamentary party are now from Queensland, the LNP is not going to change its spots.”
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