politics
Liberal leader Angus Taylor gives non-answers on multiculturalism at press conference
Taylor avoided a direct answer on multiculturalism during a Tuesday press conference. Several shadow ministers later endorsed cultural diversity in clear terms. The episode has prompted internal discussion about the party's strategy toward One Nation.
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Liberal leader Angus Taylor declined to give a direct answer when asked whether he supported multiculturalism during a Tuesday press conference. Five sources said Taylor had earlier told Liberal MPs in a closed-door meeting to begin actively recruiting new members.
The sources described the remarks as an attempt to rebuild the party's membership base. Taylor's responses at the press conference drew negative coverage and limited the Coalition's ability to focus on Labor's tax changes.
Internal party divisions Shadow ministers including Andrew Hastie publicly endorsed Australia's cultural diversity after the press conference. Hastie also told colleagues he would not enter preference deals with One Nation. Other Liberals, including Tony Pasin and former prime minister Tony Abbott, have suggested cooperation or preference arrangements with One Nation.
Poll numbers unchanged The Coalition remains at 18 percent in the latest Newspoll, the same level recorded in February. The party suffered a loss to One Nation in the Farrer byelection. Taylor has restored discipline within the party and repaired relations with the Nationals since replacing Sussan Ley. He has also proposed indexing tax brackets to inflation.
