Australia, Hastie Rejects Claims He Could Leave the Liberals as Wilkie Attacks Government over Gambling Reform

The conservative MP confirms he will recontest the next election for the Liberal Party. In Parliament, independent MP Andrew Wilkie unsuccessfully moves to suspend proceedings in protest against the government’s gambling legislation

Andrew Hastie has firmly rejected reports suggesting he is considering leaving the Liberal Party.

The conservative MP confirmed that he intends to contest the next federal election as a Liberal, dismissing claims published by Nine newspapers in a column by political commentator Niki Savva.

According to the report, Hastie was allegedly close to abandoning the party if his colleagues failed to support him in his political battle against Pauline Hanson and One Nation.

Speaking to radio station 2GB, Hastie categorically denied the speculation.

“No, I’m not on my way out. I am here to stay, and I will recontest the next election. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Hastie then launched a strong attack on the Labor government, accusing it of lacking credibility on some of the country’s most important economic and political issues.

He said Australians were being governed by an administration that could not be trusted on taxation, superannuation or border policy.

“The Australian people have a rotten government, a government that can’t be trusted, whether it’s on taxation or super or borders. Pick an issue, they can’t be trusted,” Hastie said.

The Liberal MP also called for a renewed centre-right political alternative focused on the everyday concerns of Australians.

“We need to deliver centre-right government for the Australian people. We need to focus on the Australian people’s challenges and problems, and we need to come up with solutions that improve our prosperity, improve our security, and give Australians more hope for the future,” he said.

His comments confirm his intention to continue his political fight from within the Liberal Party at a particularly sensitive time for the opposition, which is under pressure to redefine both its identity and electoral strategy.

Wilkie attacks government over gambling legislation

Tensions also rose in the House of Representatives, where independent MP Andrew Wilkie moved to suspend standing orders in an attempt to bring forward a motion condemning the government’s gambling reforms.

Wilkie, a long-time campaigner against gambling addiction and betting advertising, accused Parliament of being too closely aligned with gambling companies, media organisations and sporting bodies.

“This parliament is a fellow traveller with the gambling companies, the media companies and the sporting codes who are like jackals feeding on the carcass of gambling addicts,” Wilkie told the House.

“This is intolerable, Deputy Speaker. I call on the government to put aside that rubbish bill that was tabled today.”

Senior minister Tony Burke immediately moved to shut down the motion and called for regular parliamentary proceedings to resume.

With Labor holding the numbers in the House, the government was able to quickly defeat Wilkie’s attempt.

The confrontation nevertheless highlighted the continuing political sensitivity of gambling reform and betting advertising in Australia, particularly given the financial influence of the gambling industry across the media and professional sport.

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