Sussan Ley is likely to hold onto her position as opposition leader for at least another week, as conservative agitators within the Liberal Party struggle to coalesce around a single candidate to mount a challenge against her leadership.
Two Frontrunners Emerge but Deadlock Persists
Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor and backbencher Andrew Hastie are widely seen as the two most likely replacements for Ley, whose critics argue she has presided over a steady slide in opinion polls and failed to provide effective leadership. However, neither man appears willing to cede ground to the other, despite secret talks held at a home in Melbourne's suburbs on Thursday aimed at thrashing out a compromise.
Supporters Claim Ley Has Numbers to Survive
Ley's supporters believe she currently has the numbers to retain the leadership, primarily because the conservative vote is expected to be divided as long as both Taylor and Hastie remain in the race. Taylor previously ran unsuccessfully against Ley for the party leadership following the coalition's disastrous federal election result in May.
Meanwhile, backers of Hastie—a former SAS soldier who served as opposition home affairs spokesman before moving to the back bench to speak more freely on immigration issues—have been loudly claiming he has sufficient support to win a leadership contest. Ley's camp hotly disputes this suggestion, setting the stage for continued internal friction.
Public Comments Highlight Party Division
Liberal Senator Jane Hume addressed the leadership speculation during an appearance on Sunrise on Friday, telling host Natalie Barr that "no one has put their hand up and said, I am going to challenge. That means that Sussan Ley is the unchallenged leader of the Liberal Party." She added, "She will continue to be so until there is a party room meeting."
Health Minister Mark Butler also commented on the situation, calling out what he described as "bizarre displays of division and, frankly, disloyalty from Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor" within the Liberal Party. Butler referenced the so-called secret meeting that coincidentally had cameras present, noting it occurred on a day when the Liberal Party was mourning the loss of a much-loved colleague.
"They learned nothing from the crassness of the Coalition split last week," Butler stated. He suggested the infighting politicians could "learn a thing or two" from Hume, who called for unity to present a "credible alternative" to a Labor government at the next election.
Parliament's Return Expected to Heighten Tensions
Butler emphasized the need for focus, saying, "We are not doing that right now, quite clearly. Starting with a dummy spit from our former Coalition partners, the Nationals. Right now, we need to be focusing on the job at hand." With Parliament set to return next week, tensions within the Liberal Party are anticipated to flare significantly during this period.
Leadership Vote Unlikely in Coming Week
While Hastie's side had initially hoped to roll the opposition leader on Monday or Tuesday, the ongoing split over who should challenge for the job appears likely to delay any potential spill. Sources have confirmed to AAP that a vote is unlikely to occur next week—although if a consensus candidate were to be agreed upon, the challenge could move forward rapidly.
Backbencher Declares Support for Hastie
Adding to the leadership speculation, Liberal backbencher Ben Small publicly declared his support for Hastie on Thursday. "Australia does best when it has a good government and a strong opposition. Presently, we have neither," he stated.
Small argued that "generational change is key to reconnecting to voters who have simply stopped listening to the Liberal Party," but cautioned that "changing salespeople alone does not help." He emphasized the need for the party to "speak clearly again, without being afraid of what we believe in."
Concluding his remarks, Small said, "I have come to the deeply considered view that Andrew Hastie is the right person to lead the Liberal Party, should an opportunity to lead arise." This endorsement underscores the deepening divisions and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Liberal Party's leadership future.
