Taylor Wins Liberal Party Leadership in Landslide

Angus Taylor defeated Sussan Ley 34–17.

Shadow Minister Angus Taylor at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 17, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Angus Taylor has been elected leader of the federal Liberal Party after winning a partyroom ballot in Canberra, replacing Sussan Ley just nine months into the role.

Chief Opposition Whip Aaron Violi stepped out of the meeting to confirm Taylor won the vote with a decisive 34 to 17.

In the deputy leadership contest, Jane Hume emerged winner with 21 votes, ahead of Ted O’Brien, and Dan Tehan. Melissa Price was eliminated after receiving two votes.

Ley called the party meeting for the morning of Feb. 13, after Taylor formally lodged the challenge a day earlier.

Ley’s leadership had been under pressure as the party struggles in the polls against a surging One Nation. Since May, the Coalition has also endured two prolonged splits between the Liberals and Nationals.

Ley’s backers argued she had not been given enough time to prove herself as leader, warning the party risked further alienating women voters by removing its first female leader so quickly.

Taylor’s Pitch to Members

Taylor was one of two contenders from the party’s right faction. The other, Andrew Hastie, withdrew weeks earlier after discussions with senior conservatives.

Taylor resigned from his shadow defence portfolio on Feb. 11 and formally declared his intention to run the following day, using social media to make a direct pitch to voters.

“Our country is in trouble,” he said. “The Labor Party has failed and the Liberal Party has lost its way

“I’m running to be the leader of the Liberal Party because I believe that Australia is worth fighting for.”

Taylor said Australia needed “strong and decisive leadership.”

“I’m dedicated to serving you, the Australian people,” he said in a video posted on X.

Taylor had previously challenged Ley for the leadership after the Coalition’s May election defeat, but lost narrowly.

Many senior frontbenchers resigned soon after the spill was called including Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson, Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan, Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash, and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam.

Paterson, a key Taylor ally, said the party faced a “do or die” moment.

“Almost 5 million Australians trust in us … 2.1 million of those people have since deserted the Coalition,” he told reporters.