Josh Frydenberg, the former Australian Treasurer and Deputy Liberal leader, has been actively promoting his new book, "A Grateful Son," across various media platforms. During these appearances, he has pointedly declined to rule out a return to parliament, sparking renewed speculation about his political future.
Despite reports that Frydenberg is privately indicating he is unlikely to seek a return, his public stance of not ruling it out has been described as opportunistic. This has led to a "Josh for Canberra" discussion within political circles.
The prospect of Frydenberg's return is seen by some as a potential boost for the Coalition, offering a well-known figure and policy expertise. However, it also presents challenges, with his ideas on GST reform and criticisms of the Liberal party's direction being politically inconvenient for the current federal and Victorian Liberal leadership.
Labor sources have highlighted Frydenberg's calls for changes to the GST and the labour market, as well as his criticisms of the Liberal party's trajectory. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also joked about Frydenberg's media tour, referring to him as the "shadow opposition leader."