Angus Taylor Challenges Sussan Ley for Liberal Party Leader

There is a contest for the leader of the Liberal Party. Angus Taylor wants to be the leader instead of Sussan Ley. Many people on the party's front team have quit their jobs. The party will vote on Friday to choose their leader.
By Newsroom | Politics, Australia |

A significant leadership contest is unfolding within the Liberal Party, with Angus Taylor formally challenging Sussan Ley for the party's leadership. The internal party struggle has led to multiple frontbench resignations, creating a tense atmosphere as the party prepares for a pivotal leadership ballot. The outcome of this contest will undoubtedly shape the party's direction and its standing in the political landscape.

Live: Liberals count down to pivotal leadership meeting - 1

The political climate is charged as Liberal MPs and senators gear up for a leadership ballot. Angus Taylor has publicly declared his intention to challenge incumbent leader Sussan Ley. This challenge follows a series of resignations from the Liberal frontbench, signaling a clear division within the party. The timing of these events points to a deliberate strategy to coalesce support for a leadership change.

Live: Liberals count down to pivotal leadership meeting - 2

Timeline of Events

The recent developments leading to the leadership contest can be traced through several key moments:

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Live: Liberals count down to pivotal leadership meeting - 3

  • Wednesday night: Angus Taylor resigned from his frontbench position as Opposition defence spokesperson.

  • Thursday: Following Taylor's resignation, nine other Liberal frontbenchers announced their resignations from their roles, indicating a lack of confidence in Ley's leadership. These included James Paterson, Jonathon Duniam, Phil Thompson, Claire Chandler, and Matt O'Sullivan. Senator James McGrath, previously a Ley supporter, also resigned.

  • Thursday morning: Thompson and Jess Collins formally petitioned Ley to call a partyroom meeting to decide the leadership.

  • Friday morning, 9 am AEDT: A special Liberal Party meeting is scheduled for a leadership ballot. Jane Hume announced live on television that she will run for deputy Liberal leader, expressing her support for Angus Taylor.

Key Figures and Alliances

The leadership contest involves several prominent Liberal Party figures:

Live: Liberals count down to pivotal leadership meeting - 4

  • Sussan Ley: The current Liberal leader, facing a challenge from Angus Taylor. She has retained support from some party members, including Andrew Bragg and Andrew Wallace.

  • Angus Taylor: The challenger for the leadership. His resignation from the frontbench preceded a wave of similar actions from his supporters. He is reportedly backed by Senator Jane Hume for the deputy leadership.

  • Jane Hume: Has announced her candidacy for deputy Liberal leader, explicitly stating her support for Taylor.

  • Jacinta Nampijinpa Price: Previously sought the deputy leadership position but has stated she will support Angus Taylor in this contest.

  • Conservative vs. Moderate Factions: The report notes that "only conservatives have tendered their resignations thus far," suggesting a divide between the party's conservative and moderate wings. Moderate Senator Dave Sharma has indicated he will not publicly state his preference before the vote.

Evidence of a Coordinated Challenge

The series of resignations from the frontbench appears to be a strategic move to pressure Sussan Ley and bolster Angus Taylor's challenge.

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  • Snowballing Resignations: Article 4 highlights how "Liberal frontbench resignations snowball as Ley backer resigns." This suggests a rapid and perhaps coordinated effort to demonstrate widespread discontent with the current leadership.

  • Formal Petitions: The act of Thompson and Collins formally petitioning Ley (Article 7) demonstrates a structured approach to triggering a leadership ballot.

  • Public Declarations of Support: Jane Hume's announcement and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's statement of support for Taylor provide concrete evidence of alliances forming around the challenger.

Leadership Ballot Mechanics

The Liberal Party will conduct a leadership ballot at a special partyroom meeting.

  • Timing: The meeting is scheduled for Friday at 9 am AEDT.

  • Deputy Leadership Race: Jane Hume has declared her intention to run for the deputy leadership, indicating that this position is also being contested.

Analysis of Party Divisions

The events point to a palpable rift within the Liberal Party. The "snowballing" of frontbench resignations, particularly those described as coming from the "conservative" faction, suggests a significant ideological or strategic disagreement.

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  • Conservative Support for Taylor: The fact that "only conservatives have tendered their resignations thus far" (Article 3) strongly implies that Taylor's challenge is being driven by the party's conservative wing.

  • Moderate Hesitation: The deliberate reticence of figures like Dave Sharma (Article 3) to declare their support before the vote could indicate internal maneuvering or a desire to assess the momentum of the challenge.

The Liberal Party is at a critical juncture. The upcoming leadership ballot will determine the party's future direction and leadership. The coordinated resignations and public declarations of support indicate a serious and organized effort to unseat the current leader, Sussan Ley. The extent to which moderate members align with the conservative challenge will be a key factor in the outcome of the vote.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is challenging Sussan Ley for leader?
Angus Taylor is challenging Sussan Ley to become the leader of the Liberal Party.
Q: Why did many people quit their jobs?
Many members of the Liberal frontbench resigned from their roles. This shows they may not support Sussan Ley as leader.
Q: When will the party choose a new leader?
The Liberal Party will have a meeting to vote for a new leader on Friday morning.