Journalist Peter van Onselen during Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
After the alleged exchange was revealed,Ms Berejiklian said she did not remember the messages.
“I understand there has been some commentary today concerning myself and the PM. I have no recollection of such messages,” she said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“Let me reiterate my very strong support for Prime Minister Morrison and all he is doing for our nation during these very challenging times. I also strongly believe he is the best person to lead our nation for years to come.”
Van Onselen said the Prime Minister “will be looking at his cabinet ministers,wondering which one of them the former NSW premier spoke to”,suggesting the unnamed Liberal could be one of Mr Morrison’s close federal colleagues.
The NSW Liberal Party has been embroiled in a series of factional disputes,with the state executive last weekrejecting a motion that would have used special powers to endorse sitting MPs and protect government members from preselection challenges.
It’s not the first time the allegedly frosty relationship between the Liberal leaders has been exposed. Last year,The Sydney Morning Herald reported Ms Berejiklianwent as far as to tell a colleague Mr Morrison’s behaviour was “evil” after the Prime Minister’s office phoned political reporters in a background effort to discredit her over the vaccine rollout last year.
But Ms Berejiklian said,“don’t believe what you read”,and that she was on good terms with Mr Morrison.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Tuesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Late last year,the Prime Minister led an appeal for the former NSW premier to run for the federal seat of Warringah,telling reporters in Sydney at the time she’d be a “great” candidate for the independent-held seat. Ms Berejiklian ruled out the idea days later.
Ms Berejiklian stepped down from her role as premier after the state’s corruption watchdog announced she was to be the subject of an inquiry.
A survey of voters published last week indicates the Coalition could be in trouble ahead of the upcoming federal election.Primary vote support for the Coalition has fallen from 39 to 34 per cent from November to January. The federal election is expected to be held in May,the announcement of which is expected in March.
The primary vote results in the exclusive Resolve Political Monitor showed an increase in Labor’s core support from 32 to 35 per cent,putting Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in a strong position ahead of the election.
Another poll conducted forThe Australian showed Mr Morrison’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since March 2020,when he faced attacks over his handling of the bushfire crisis.