Coalition defence spokesman Angus Taylor has resigned from the Opposition frontbench, sending shockwaves through Canberra and setting the stage for a direct leadership showdown with Liberal leader Sussan Ley.
Taylor’s departure marks the most dramatic escalation yet in the party’s ongoing internal strife, with questions over Ley’s leadership simmering for months.
Sources told Daily Mail that Taylor did not call for a spill motion on Wednesday evening after he visited Ley to resign in person, but the move is expected to trigger one as early as Thursday.
Daily Mail understands the ballot for Liberal leader will be tight, with just four or five undecided MPs to determine the final outcome of the vote, and that Zoe McKenzie, federal member for Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, will run as Taylor’s deputy.
‘This has been a long time in the making, going right back to when Taylor narrowly lost a showdown to take over the Opposition leadership after the 2025 election defeat,’ Daily Mail political editor Peter van Onselen said.
‘He’s never hidden his leadership ambitions and with the woeful opinion polls, Ley’s personal poor ratings, multiple splits with the Nationals and the rise of One Nation as an alternative force on the right of politics, he has decided to strike.
‘He will need Liberal moderates to support his cause, that remains an open question.
‘Ley’s passive leadership and poor showing in parliament has been a factor in colleagues losing confidence in her, but many Liberal MPs also have serious doubts about whether Angus Taylor is capable of turning their fortunes around.’
Angus Taylor (pictured) resigned from the Opposition Shadow front bench on Wednesday
The resignation opens the path for a challenge against Liberal leader Sussan Ley (pictured)
The conservative faction of the Liberal Party has united behind Taylor after fellow leadership candidate Angus Taylor withdrew from the contest.
Ley’s ability to retain the leadership rests on holding moderates together.
‘One assumes that her poor performances and the polling problems of the party will be enough to shift a few moderate votes to deliver the leadership to Taylor, but the mere fact that he is striking will add to her woes.
‘How exactly this plays out remains to be seen. Either way, Labor is avoiding the sort of scrutiny it needs from a strong opposition as the Liberals implode.
It is understood Taylor’s team will get one of their female supporters to move the spill motion, in a bid to help overcome the perception of the party’s first female leader being rolled by a male so soon after taking over.
‘Senator Jess Collins is expected to be given that task. It’s the same reason senators Jane Hume and Sarah Henderson have been at the vanguard of criticising Ley this week, to help build momentum for a challenge.’
Prime Minister Albanese and his ministers seized on the Opposition’s turmoil during Question Time on Wednesday, accusing the Coalition of ‘tearing down their own house.’
Minister for Women Catherine King pointedly criticised Taylor in response to a question from a Labor backbencher about women’s health funding.
A confident-looking Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday
Catherin King use Labor’s health funding to take aim at Taylor saying her party supports women instead of ‘undercutting those brave enough to lead’
‘It is what happens when you support women and you support women to be in the room making decisions in a majority female government with a majority female cabinet,’ she said.
‘Instead of undercutting women who are brave enough to put their hands up to lead,’ she said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke accused Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan of ‘auditioning’ for a spot in a possible Taylor shadow cabinet, while Albanese referred to the front bench as a ‘deputies parade’.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers criticised Taylor by reading out negative quotes from new articles, reportedly made by fellow Liberal MPs.
‘He was an absolute disaster in that role,’ Chalmers said, quoting a Liberal MP on Angus Taylor’s tenure as Shadow Treasurer.
‘Everything he touches turns to custard,’ Chalmers continued.
Ley’s key ally, Alex Hawke, Manager of Opposition Business, did not intervene as Chalmers used what some considered possibly unparliamentary language.
Ley was seen smirking as Chalmers spoke.
