Angus Taylor’s office has denied removing a comment about Coalition infighting from the official transcript of a radio interview after questions were raised over a missing reference to future ‘bust-ups’ between the Liberals and Nationals.
The issue emerged after Taylor appeared on 4BC Drive with host Carla Bignasca on Thursday and argued the Coalition had moved beyond years of internal turmoil.
An official transcript of the interview records part of Taylor’s response as ‘[inaudible]’.
The published transcript states: ‘Matt Canavan and myself have worked together closely… [inaudible]… between the Liberal and National parties.’
However, Daily Mail understands the missing section contained the comment: ‘And there will be no more bust-ups between the Liberal and National parties.’
Taylor’s office denied altering the transcript to remove the remark, and said the transcript had been prepared from a mobile-phone recording captured inside the studio, on which the relevant section could not be clearly heard.
The missing comment came after Bignasca suggested the Coalition was presenting a united and coherent alternative to Labor following years 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.
Angus Taylor (pictured) said that there would be ‘no more bust-ups’ in the Coalition
‘There’s been a lot of, not infighting, but there’s been a lot of party turmoil.’
Bignasca then asked whether voters could now view the Coalition as a viable alternative government capable of delivering on its promises.
Taylor acknowledged the Coalition had endured difficult periods in recent years, 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.’
Taylor then pointed to his relationship with Nationals senator Matt Canavan as evidence the Coalition was working cohesively.
‘We have worked together for many years,’ he said.
‘We are not only strong working colleagues, but good friends.’
Taylor said he and Matt Canavan (pictured) were working closely together as Coalition leaders
‘We see the world in a similar way, and we believe in the same things, which are the Liberal and National Party values.’
The episode comes as the Coalition attempts to rebuild following its 2025 federal election defeat while facing growing competition from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
A recent YouGov poll of 1,505 voters put Labor ahead of the Coalition 52-48 on a two-party-preferred basis.
On the primary vote, One Nation led with 28 per cent, followed by Labor on 25 per cent and the Coalition on 21 per cent.
