Opposition leader Sussan Ley has responded after a Liberal senator said she is losing support and it would take a "miracle" to turn things around.
Senator Sarah Henderson stoked fresh leadership rumblings on Friday after expressing concern with the direction of the party under Ley.
"Things are not travelling well. I do have to say, really honestly, I do think Sussan is losing support, but I do believe in miracles," she told Sky News on Friday.
"We can turn things around."
Asked about Henderson's remarks, including that the party was in "dire straits", Ley told a group of reporters she wasn't focused on "commentary".
Opposition leader Sussan Ley says her party is united around its core Liberal values. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"I'm not commenting on commentary. What I am saying is that every one of my team is absolutely united behind the focus that we have right now."
Ley was asked about the string of backbenchers who've criticised her in recent weeks — including Liberal senator Jane Hume, who described Ley's call for the sacking of US ambassdor Kevin Rudd as "churlish".
The Opposition leader said her party was "united" around its values.
Henderson's comments come as the party contends with ruptures over the issue of net zero emissions. Coalition partner, the Nationals, formally dropped the mandate at a meeting of grassroots members.
After weeks of internal tensions, Liberal members are shortly due to decide on a position regarding whether to retain or abandon an existing goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The first party room meeting is scheduled to be held on 12 November for a discussion on energy and emissions reduction policies.
Henderson, who was dumped from the frontbench in May, paused when asked whether the party could turn its fortunes around with a new leader or with Ley.
"Well, I can't back in the way things are," she said.
"I've got to be authentic and I've got to be honest about that."
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said she is stating the obvious about the party's dire position. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"I'm stating the bleeding obvious, we are in a dire situation," Henderson said.
"The infighting has been terrible, and I'm terribly sorry about what's been going on in the Liberal Party," Henderson said.
Asked by reporters later whether other Liberals shared her concerns, she said: "A lot of my colleagues are very concerned about the way things are going."
Hastie dismisses leadership speculation
Following Henderson's comments, Andrew Hastie — who is widely considered a potential leadership contender — dismissed speculation Ley will soon be challenged.
Hastie, who was seen out for dinner with a group of conservatives in Canberra earlier in the week, said the group wasn't plotting a party room coup.
"There was nothing to it, it was just good friends catching up," the Western Australian MP told Sydney radio station 2GB.
"I can't pretend things are good. We had a dire Newspoll result with a primary vote of just 24 per cent, things are not travelling well."
But the outspoken opponent of his party's previous support for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 said the Coalition could still turn things around by settling on an energy policy that lowered power prices.
"The thing we have to do is come to a position on net zero and that's my singular focus," Hastie said.
"Until we sort that out, it doesn't matter who leads the party."
Former Liberal leader criticises Ley
Former Liberal leader John Hewson has also criticised Ley and the party she leads amid the ongoing policy debate.
"She hasn't shown any clear strategy, or any strong capacity in terms of leadership," he told the Australian Associated Press.
Hewson, who let his membership lapse in 2019 due to concerns about the party's record on climate change, said the Opposition was lacking serious policies because its members had limited experience outside of politics.
"They haven't got people with significant business experience ... I don't think that they've got people who are policy wonks in economic policy," he said.
John Hewson criticised the Opposition for having little experience outside of politics. Source: AAP / Flavio Brancaleone
As Opposition leader, Hewson took a promise of economic reform to the 1993 federal election, which the Coalition roundly lost to Paul Keating's Labor government.
"I'd really like to see Sussan be given a fair run with everyone pitching in and doing a proper policy job," said Hewson, while also criticising Hastie.
"He's been sold a bit of a dump by the right of the party," Hewson said, arguing Hastie's criticism of Australia's immigration program was unlikely to be popular in the broader electorate.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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