By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Conservative darling Andrew Hastie has been backed as a future Liberal leader by demoted frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who criticised current leader Sussan Ley for failing to show faith in her.

Ms Ley’s leadership has come under growing pressure with conservative MPs rallying behind Mr Hastie after he faced an internal backlash to comments calling for Australia’s reindustrialisation.

Senator Nampijinpa Price was asked on radio station 2GB whether the West Australian had what it took to be a future leader.

“I think so. I think he’s passionate, he’s got conviction,” she said.

Supporting the key institutions of family, community and the nation are at the core of Mr Hastie’s focus, Senator Nampiijinpa Price said.

“He’d make a remarkable leader one day.”

Despite not contesting the party leadership just four months ago, Mr Hastie has become a doyen of the conservative movement with his strident criticism of net zero and boosting of traditional values.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the former SAS soldier called out “nameless cowards” in the Liberal party who had criticised him in anonymous comments provided to the Australian newspaper after a post bemoaning the loss of automotive manufacturing in Australia.

Senator Nampijinpa Price, as well as Nationals senator Matt Canavan, rushed to his defence, while coalition backbencher Garth Hamilton also backed Mr Hastie’s post.

Senator Nampijinpa Price said many Liberal members were disappointed about the party’s leadership failing to hold the government to account.

“(South Australian Liberal MP) Tony Pasin is right to say that many have written in to us expressing their deep concern, and rightly so. I think they have every right to be concerned,” she said.

Ms Ley booted Senator Nampijinpa Price from the shadow cabinet after refusing to apologise for comments accusing Labor of bringing in Indian migrants to boost their vote before failing to provide confidence in her leadership.

When asked on Wednesday, she once again refused to declare her faith in the opposition leader.

“I’m not going to speculate on how I think or feel,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

“We need to find some positions going forward, some policy positions, and I would certainly love to have those debates, but as I said, within our party room, and that’s what I’ll be focusing on.

“I’d love for the leader to have confidence in me, also.

“The fact that I’ve been demoted probably demonstrates that.”

Recalcitrant Hastie marches to the beat of his own drum

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