Angus Taylor has informed Opposition Leader Sussan Ley he will challenge her for leadership of the Liberal Party, resigning from the shadow frontbench and setting up a formal spill.
Other senior frontbenchers, including James Paterson and Matt O’Sullivan are expected to follow Taylor’s resignation with their own as they push for a leadership spill later this week.
Taylor’s bid for the leadership comes nine months after Ley defeated him in a tight contest in May last year, shortly after former opposition leader Peter Dutton lost his own seat in the 2025 election.
Ley’s hold on the position has been under siege since Nationals leader David Littleproud split the Coalition three weeks ago in a dispute with the Liberals over voting for the government’s hate speech laws, reuniting only last Sunday.
Paul Sakkal is chief political correspondent. He previously covered Victorian politics and has won Walkley and Quill awards. Reach him securely on Signal @paulsakkal.14Connect via X or email.
