UPDATE: Tensions within the Liberal Party have escalated as frontbencher Andrew Hastie publicly condemned “nameless cowards” in his party, sparking an urgent internal conflict. In a fiery Instagram post over the weekend, Hastie expressed his frustration with anonymous criticisms from party members regarding his recent video on Australia’s manufacturing decline.
Hastie, who is positioning himself as a potential leader of the Liberal Party, shared a picture with a striking 1969 Ford Falcon while lamenting that Australia has devolved into “a nation of flat-white makers.” His comments come amid mounting concerns over the future of local manufacturing.
Late on Monday night, Hastie responded to anonymous remarks about who financed his “well produced video,” shared by The Australian. He took to Instagram, stating, “Nameless cowards briefing in the paper,” and directly criticized his fellow MPs, remarking, “It was filmed by competent, patriotic Gen Z staffers you muppets.”
In his video, Hastie denounced both Labor and previous Liberal policies that contributed to the collapse of the Australian car industry, asserting that “both the Liberals and Labor share the responsibility for its demise.” He highlighted that since the last cars rolled off assembly lines in 2016 and 2017, Australia has faced increasing deindustrialization.
Hastie did not shy away from attacking Labor’s Net Zero climate strategy, branding their “radical 2035 emissions targets” as detrimental. He captioned his post “Australia’s First,” echoing the rhetoric of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The fallout from Hastie’s comments has drawn support from fellow Coalition senators Jacinta Price and Matt Canavan, who echoed his sentiment against anonymous critics. Canavan expressed his frustration on social media, stating he cannot tolerate “cowards that don’t put their name to comments.”
Price, recently removed from the frontbench for controversial remarks about Indian immigration, emphasized the need for transparency among MPs. She asserted, “Any MPs who disagree with the video should have the courage to own their comments.”
This internal strife comes on the heels of Price’s own social media tirade against Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke, accusing him of “cowardly and inappropriate behaviour.”
The ongoing dispute highlights deepening factional divides within the Liberal Party, with both Hastie and Price arguing for a more open debate on critical national issues. Price commended Hastie’s willingness to engage in “the battle of ideas,” contrasting it with the behavior of unnamed party members.
As this situation develops, the future of the Liberal Party leadership remains uncertain, with internal conflicts threatening to undermine its unity. Observers are keenly watching to see how this saga unfolds and what it means for the party’s direction moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to evolve.
