Opposition leader Zak Kirkup calls former Liberal member Murray Cowper ‘old and stale’

In an awkward live television moment, Opposition leader Zak Kirkup has told a former Liberal MP he was “old and stale,” when talking about party reform.

Speaking to a panel, including former Liberal member Murray Cowper, on the party’s future Mr Kirkup said he hopes to continue to attract “exceptional candidates and members of parliament.”

“This election we’ve had the most diverse set of candidates that we’ve ever had,” Mr Kirkup said.

“And then you look at someone like Murray Cowper, who I think is an old and stale member of the Liberal party, who is no longer there… and in his place we stood Michelle Boylan, who is an outstanding chaplain and former police officer.

“That’s the change you can see right there… about what the new Liberal party looks like and the old Liberal party looks like.”

After a tense few seconds, Chanel 7’s Mark Riley said: “Maybe the old and stale Murray Cowper might have something to say about that.”

• LIVE BLOG: Clock ticks down as final votes are cast

Mr Kirkup was then forced to reject claims he threw the Liberal Party under the bus with his Green Energy Policy.

Mr Cowper suggested the controversial policy was a “quantum leap to the left” and placed the Liberal Party in hot water.

This was met with strong disagreement form Mr Kirkup who defended the choice.

“I think it’s intrinsically a Liberal Party Policy,” Mr Kirkup said.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt called out Mr Kirkup and suggested he was bluffing about leaving politics and criticised his campaign.

“I’ve never seen a political leader try to lose as much as Zak has,” Mr Wyatt said.