An Angus Taylor transcript dispute has emerged after a reference to future “bust-ups” between Australia’s Liberal and National parties was missing from the published record of a radio interview.
Taylor’s office denied removing the comment, saying the transcript had been prepared from a mobile-phone recording made inside the studio and that the relevant section could not be heard clearly.
The Coalition politician appeared on 4BC Drive with host Carla Bignasca on Thursday, where he argued that the alliance had moved beyond years of internal turmoil.
The official transcript records part of his answer as “[inaudible]”. It states: “Matt Canavan and myself have worked together closely… [inaudible]… between the Liberal and National parties.”
The missing passage was understood to have included the words: “And there will be no more bust-ups between the Liberal and National parties.”
The exchange followed Bignasca’s suggestion that the Coalition was beginning to offer voters a united alternative to Labor after a period of instability.
“It feels to me, Angus, that the Coalition is starting to stand for something that perhaps has been missing since the last election,” she said.
She added: “There’s been a lot of, not infighting, but there’s been a lot of party turmoil.”
Bignasca then asked whether voters could now regard the Coalition as a viable alternative government capable of delivering on its promises.
Taylor acknowledged that the partnership had experienced difficult periods, including two break-ups between the Liberals and Nationals under former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
“Absolutely. I mean, it is true, there’s times over recent years where we could have been better,” he said. “I’m the first to admit that, and I’ve said that before when I came into this job.”
He pointed to his relationship with Nationals senator Matt Canavan as evidence that the Coalition was now working cohesively.
“We have worked together for many years,” Taylor said. “We are not only strong working colleagues, but good friends.”
He added: “We see the world in a similar way, and we believe in the same things, which are the Liberal and National Party values.”
The Coalition is attempting to rebuild after its defeat at the 2025 federal election while facing growing competition from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
A YouGov poll of 1,505 voters put Labor ahead of the Coalition by 52 per cent to 48 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis. On primary votes, One Nation was on 28 per cent, followed by Labor on 25 per cent and the Coalition on 21 per cent.
