Former ABC star Barrie Cassidy says Peter Dutton is bad choice to replace Scott Morrison

Peter Dutton would be a bad choice as the next Liberal leader as he is ‘ideologically opposed’ to action on climate change which has proven to be a major issue among voters, former ABC politics presenter Barrie Cassidy says.

Speaking on Channel 10’s The Project on Sunday, Cassidy was asked if, after losing the federal election, the Liberals should move to the centre to win back the seats they’ve lost, or whether the loss of many ‘moderates’ such as Josh Frydenberg from parliament will see it shift to the right.

‘That’s a debate that will go on within the party now, and I think the answer to that is probably depends on the leadership and who is the next leader of the party,’ he said.

‘The party has been going more to the right and more so by the minute.’

Cassidy, who was a close adviser to former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke, also said Scott Morrison should leave politics and not ‘create mischief’. 

He said, having lost so many of their moderate MPs to so-called teal independents, the Liberals’ parliamentary base is now even more dominated by the right at a time when female voters in particular have repudiated those policies at the ballot box. 

‘They’re in a bind because they have a female problem. They have a problem with climate change, they have a problem with integrity,’ said Cassidy. 

‘Who are you going to call? Peter Dutton to fix those issues when he’s ideologically opposed, not to women, but to the other issues. But if it’s not him. Who else?’

While Cassidy thinks Dutton would be the wrong choice to lead the Liberals, the former Queensland policeman has respect within the party top brass for his ability to constantly win re-election in his marginal seat of Dickson, indicating that he appeals to the party’s new base of mortgage-belt strivers, socially conservative blue-collar workers and small-business owners.  

‘Even though it seems illogical, it could be Peter Dutton, because now, when you look at the fresh numbers, 30 or 40 per cent of the Liberal Party in the parliamentary party are now from Queensland, the LNP is not going to change its spots,’ he said. 

Cassidy was also asked what Scott Morrison is likely to do next.  

‘He does what every other former Prime Minister does. He just creates mischief,’ he said. 

‘You know, they (former prime ministers) really ought to get out of there.’

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured front left) may be replaced as leader of the Liberals by and Peter Dutton (front right)

Cassidy warned that Labor must tread carefully with the teals and other independents. 

‘Even if the teals and the rest of them don’t hold the balance of power. I think it’s important for Labor to find ways to work with them.

‘I think they will because Anthony Albanese is likely to be is a more conciliatory type than Scott Morrison.’

He also predicted that the growing number of independent MPs means the era of one side of politics ruling on its own is coming to an end. 

‘I just think this Labor majority government could be the last in my lifetime.

‘I think the last of any major party having a majority,’ said Cassidy. 

Former ABC star Barrie Cassidy (pictured) told Channel 10’s The Project on Sunday night that Peter Dutton would be a bad choice for the next leader of the Liberal Party