Leadership Shakeup in Australia as Sussan Ley Ousted from Liberal Party

Fri Feb 13 2026 05:04:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Sussan Ley has been removed as the leader of the Liberal Party in Australia, making way for Angus Taylor after only nine months in charge. This shift highlights ongoing struggles within the party following a significant electoral defeat.

In a significant leadership change, Sussan Ley has been ousted as the first female leader of Australia's Liberal Party after losing to Angus Taylor in a recent ballot. Ley’s leadership faced challenges from the onset, with ongoing infighting and low poll ratings. Taylor's appointment comes amidst a backdrop of poor electoral performance for the coalition.

The first female leader of Australia's Liberal Party, Sussan Ley, has been ousted after just nine months in the role, losing a leadership ballot to her former shadow defence minister Angus Taylor.

Ley was appointed following a significant defeat in last year's election but struggled with disappointing poll numbers and internal party conflicts within the Liberal-National Coalition. Taylor announced his candidacy to challenge Ley for leadership on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation.

In a social media post after his election on Friday, he expressed that it was an immense honour to lead the party and looked forward to collaborating with new deputy leader Jane Hume.

Taylor, representing the party's conservative faction, secured the position through a secret ballot with 34 votes against Ley's 17.

Following the announcement of the results, Ley indicated her resignation from Parliament and announced her intent to step away completely from public life. She stated to reporters that she held no hard feelings towards Taylor but emphasized the need for him to enjoy clear air, referencing the turbulent challenges she faced during her leadership.

Taylor, who narrowly lost the 2025 leadership contest to Ley, has been part of the parliamentary landscape since 2013 and previously served as a minister under both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.

Ley's time at the helm appeared precarious as the Liberal-National coalition faced divisions during her leadership tenure. The coalition struggled with inconsistent support, particularly on issues such as energy and climate policy, and saw the rise of alternative parties like One Nation, which outperformed them in recent polls.

Reflecting on her leadership journey, Ley commented on the immense pressures faced while noting the resilience of ordinary Australians in their daily lives.