Frydenberg leaves door open to political return in memoir

Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s former treasurer, has published a memoir that sets out what he thinks the Liberal Party must do to survive.

He argues the party should reconnect with centrist and younger voters and warns that continued vote declines could threaten its current form.

Frydenberg lost his seat of Kooyong to independent Monique Ryan in 2022.

He has not said whether he will run for office again, and says he does not need to decide yet because the next federal election is still 18 months away.

His uncertainty is causing concern among Liberal colleagues, who say it could distract from party leader Angus Taylor’s efforts and affect prospective candidates and donors in Kooyong.

Frydenberg has also proposed raising the GST, removing some exemptions and using part of the added revenue to fund income tax cuts.

The memoir has renewed attention on whether he might return, but he has not announced a decision.}