Last week’s debate among federal parliamentarians over the oppositions discourse has bled over into this week, with independent MP for the Melbourne seat of Kooyong, Monique Ryan appearing on Nine’s Today program this morning.
“With Sussan Ley and Peter Dutton going into these personal attacks all the time, this toxic negativity, it just doesn’t work in my electorate,” said Ryan.
Member for Kooyong Dr Monique Ryan during a press conference earlier this year.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“We’d like some policies, we’d like some alternative ideas, some suggestions as to how they will deal with things like the cost of living crisis and housing. We’re not seeing that. If all Peter Dutton’s got is sticks and stones, he’s not going to win back seats like Kooyong.”
The fight has intensified over the last fortnight after independent MP Zali Steggall told Peter Dutton to “stop being racist” during a debate on refugees from Gaza.
The debate continued last week, as teal independents spoke out against perceived “misogyny” from the opposition during debate over the establishment of a parliamentary watchdog to manage behaviour in Canberra.
A number of Liberal Party spokespeople including senator Jane Hume and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley spoke out throughout the last week against the teals position.
“Well the teals said they’d change Canberra. I think Canberra changed them,” said Ley.
“Peter Dutton is a decent man who cares for this country and its diversity – and I back his character every day of the week.”
Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie also appeared on Today, saying that if the oppositions’ rhetoric did not improve, they would not regain seats lost to independents at the last election.
“Honestly, for the teals, [the] Liberal Party is just a gift that keeps giving,” said Lambie, “while they are doing this to the teals I have no doubt they’re going to continue to lose votes against them.”
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