Angus Taylor

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Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat

Elected Liberal leader February 13, 2026

Nine months after suffering Australia's worst opposition defeat in modern history, the Liberal Party has changed leaders for the second time. Angus Taylor defeated incumbent Sussan Ley 34-17 in a February 13 leadership spill, ending her 276-day tenure—the second shortest in party history. Ley, the party's first female leader, announced she would resign from parliament entirely, triggering a by-election in her rural New South Wales seat of Farrer.

Updated May 29

Notable Quotes

"It is clear that numbers have been too high and standards have been too low. Our policy will be for lower numbers and for higher standards." — First speech as Liberal leader, February 13, 2026

from Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat · Updated May 29

"We want people who come to this country to believe in our core values: in democracy, in the rule of law, in our basic freedoms." — February 13, 2026

from Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat · Updated May 29

"It is clear that numbers have been too high and standards have been too low. Our policy will be for lower numbers and for higher standards." — First speech as Liberal leader, February 13, 2026

from Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat · Updated May 29

"We want people who come to this country to believe in our core values: in democracy, in the rule of law, in our basic freedoms." — February 13, 2026

from Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat · Updated May 29

"Options are change or die and I choose change." — February 13, 2026

from Australia's Liberal Party rebuilds after historic 2025 defeat · Updated May 29