Politics · Australia · 2 hrs ago
Frydenberg says the Liberal Party must change under Taylor
Former Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg has criticised the Liberal Party’s direction under its leader, Angus Taylor.
Frydenberg says the party faces an existential threat and must change, amid poor poll results.
He has released a memoir that criticises the party for losing touch with its roots and sets out policy ideas.
One proposal, raising the goods and services tax to help fund tax cuts, was rejected by Taylor.
Frydenberg lost his parliamentary seat in 2022 and has not ruled out trying to return to politics.
To do that, he would need to win Liberal Party preselection and regain a seat the party failed to win in 2025.
The next Australian election is 18 months away, and Frydenberg says he does not need to decide immediately.
Josh Frydenberg says the Liberal Party must change because it faces an existential threat.
The former treasurer made the comments during a 60 Minutes interview as Angus Taylor leads the party.
Frydenberg’s new memoir criticises the party for losing touch with its roots and sets out policy proposals.
He denied the book was a pitch for the prime ministership but said he had not ruled out leading the country.
Taylor rejected Frydenberg’s suggestion that a Coalition government raise the GST to offset income and business tax cuts.
- Who
- Josh Frydenberg, a former treasurer, criticised the Liberal Party under leader Angus Taylor.
- What
- Frydenberg said the party must change, citing an existential threat.
- When
- Sunday night, as reported on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Frydenberg said the polls showed the party was at an all-time low and that it had lost touch with its roots.
Josh Frydenberg
Angus Taylor
GST policy
Josh Frydenberg
Frydenberg suggested a Coalition government raise the GST to offset income and business tax cuts.
Angus Taylor
Taylor shut down the suggestion.
The polls are showing that the Liberal Party is at an all-time low
And so, things have to change. Because there’s something existential about the threat that I think the party now faces.
I don’t need to rush to a decision. The next election is 18 months away.
Angus Taylor addressed the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane.
Frydenberg said in a 60 Minutes interview that the Liberal Party was at an all-time low and needed to change.
Taylor was due to return to parliament.
- Interview
- 60 Minutes
- Party leader
- Angus Taylor
- Former treasurer
- Josh Frydenberg
- Next election
- 18 months away, according to Frydenberg
- Conference
- Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane
Sources
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