Angus Taylor knows too well that he’s just entered a whole new world of pain with his elevation to the leadership of the Federal Opposition.
It’s a job Andrew Hastie didn’t want and Taylor probably wanted to time his own run closer to an election.
You don’t need to be a Rhodes Scholar (as Taylor is) to know Labor has a dirt file of his past discretions that’s the size of an old school phonebook, but it’s the enemy within that’s the clear and present danger.
Coming up with a Shadow Cabinet that pleases more people than it upsets is a formidable job but essential if he wants to get off on the right foot. Numbers were done right before the leadership spill so a slew of promises were made.
With the rocky marriage that is the Coalition agreement with the Nationals seemingly patched up for the time being, the pressure is on for both parties to put some coherent policies on the table.
No contemporary Opposition likes making policy announcements outside of an election campaign because it gives the government-of-the-day scope to pull them apart.
From its position of ascendancy, the Albanese Government will be content to “do Taylor slowly” to paraphrase a past ALP leader.
The resurgent One Nation will field a candidate in the Farrer by-election triggered by Sussan Ley’s departure, but the Libs should still be favoured to hold the seat, given their current buffer of 12.4 percent.
One Nation only polled six percent of primary votes last time and the Nats did not run. Should a high-profile candidate emerge, it will be on for young and old.
Craig Regan, Senior Account Director
Image: Angus Taylor MP at the 2015 Crawford Forum via Wikimedia Commons
