From Dutton's loss to Taylor's ascent: nine months of leadership turmoil
February 14th, 2026: Taylor Outlines Policy PrioritiesNew here? Follow stories to track developments over time. Create a free account to get updates when stories you care about change.
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.
Taylor inherits a party polling at 20 percent primary support, behind both Labor at 30 percent and One Nation at 25 percent. The Coalition itself has fractured twice since the May 2025 election, briefly splitting with the National Party over hate speech legislation before reunifying on February 8. With Labor commanding a 94-seat majority and no election required until 2028, Taylor faces the task of rebuilding a party that lost its leader's own seat for the first time in Australian history.
Angus Taylor - Liberal Party of Australia
Meet Angus - Liberal Party NSW
Sussan Ley 2019 (Higher Quality)
How Angus Taylor won the Liberal leadership in landslide
news.com.au
IN FULL: Liberals, Nationals announce deal to reunite ...
ABC News (Australia)
'Change, or die': Angus Taylor speaks after winning Liberal ...
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"Democracy demands more than simply standing for office—it requires standing for something. When a party loses even its leader's own constituents, perhaps the electorate is saying that reshuffling faces cannot substitute for examining principles."
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Australia's main center-right party, currently holding 39 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives.
The formal alliance between the Liberal Party and National Party that governs or opposes as a unit.
New opposition leader emphasizes lower immigration with "higher standards" and tougher stance on entrants who "bring hatred and violence."
New Liberal leader emphasizes 'lower numbers and higher standards' for immigration, stating Australia wants entrants who believe in democracy, rule of law, and basic freedoms rather than those who 'bring hatred and violence.'
Taylor wins 34-17, becoming opposition leader. Jane Hume defeats Ted O'Brien 30-20 for deputy. Ley announces resignation from parliament.
Taylor resigns from shadow cabinet, stating Ley is not "in a position to lead the party as it needs to be led."
Liberals and Nationals end 17-day split, rejoining formal coalition arrangement.
Littleproud defeats Boyce in party room vote, retaining Nationals leadership.
Colin Boyce announces leadership challenge, calling Coalition split "political suicide."
Three National Party frontbenchers cross the floor to vote against hate speech laws. Littleproud announces Nationals will sit on crossbench separately.
Albanese recalls parliament to pass emergency hate speech and firearms legislation in response to Bondi attack.
Gunman attacks Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in deadliest terrorist attack in Australian history. Government announces hate speech legislation.
Liberals and Nationals reunify after Ley agrees to four policy demands from Littleproud. Taylor appointed shadow defence minister.
Sussan Ley defeats Angus Taylor 29-25 in leadership ballot, becoming first woman to lead the Liberal Party, the Coalition, or serve as federal opposition leader.
Labor wins 94 seats with 55.22 percent two-party-preferred vote. Peter Dutton becomes first opposition leader to lose his own seat. Coalition reduced to 43 seats.
Discussed by: The Conversation, Australian Financial Review analysts
Taylor uses his policy background and factional support to rebuild party discipline and develop clear policy alternatives on immigration, energy, and housing. The Farrer by-election provides an early test. If Liberals hold the seat and avoid further Coalition rifts, polling could narrow as Labor faces second-term challenges on cost of living. Taylor's experience as shadow treasurer positions him to attack on economic issues if interest rates remain elevated.
Discussed by: Roy Morgan Research, Poll Bludger analysis
With One Nation polling at 25 percent primary vote compared to Liberals' 20 percent, a structural realignment of the Australian right is possible. If Taylor cannot differentiate his immigration and energy positions from Pauline Hanson while maintaining appeal to moderate suburban voters, the Liberal base continues fragmenting. Urban seats shift to teals and Labor while regional seats shift to One Nation.
Discussed by: The Conversation political scientists
After two splits in nine months, the Liberal-National Coalition may not survive another major policy disagreement. If Nationals pursue a distinctive regional identity to compete with One Nation in rural seats while Liberals chase suburban moderates, the formal alliance becomes untenable. Each party would need to win seats independently, fundamentally reshaping Australian politics.
Discussed by: Independent Australia, The Guardian commentators
Taylor's previous controversies—questions over the $80 million water buyback connected to a company where he was formerly a director, the allegedly falsified council documents sent to media, and investigations into land clearing on family property—receive renewed scrutiny. If these issues damage his standing or by-election campaigns fail, the party's instability could trigger another leadership change before the 2028 election.
Downer defeated John Hewson for Liberal leadership in May 1994 with initially high approval ratings reaching 53 percent. A series of gaffes, including a joke about domestic violence policy, eroded his support. By December 1994 his approval had fallen to 34 percent. He resigned in January 1995 without leading the party to an election, replaced by John Howard.
Howard became Liberal leader and led the party to a landslide victory in 1996.
Downer served as Foreign Minister for 11 years under Howard, demonstrating that failed leaders can find productive roles in subsequent governments.
Ley's 276-day tenure is the second shortest after Downer's eight months. Both leaders faced party rooms impatient with poor polling and eager for change before facing voters.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faced two leadership challenges within a week. He survived the first against Peter Dutton 48-35, but resigned rather than contest the second. Scott Morrison defeated Dutton 45-40 to become prime minister. Turnbull quit parliament immediately, triggering a by-election the Coalition lost.
Morrison stabilized the government and won the 2019 election against expectations.
The pattern of leadership instability continued, with the Liberals now on their fourth leader in four years following the 2022 loss.
Like Turnbull, Ley is leaving parliament after losing leadership, triggering a by-election. The pattern of departing leaders creating electoral problems for successors continues.
After losing to Tony Abbott in 2013, Labor elected Bill Shorten as leader through a new system including rank-and-file members. Shorten led the party through two elections, nearly winning in 2016 before losing unexpectedly in 2019. Anthony Albanese then led Labor to victory in 2022.
Shorten provided six years of stable opposition leadership, allowing policy development.
The extended rebuild period allowed Labor to develop detailed policy platforms and retain experienced frontbenchers.
Taylor faces the same challenge: building a credible alternative government over multiple years of opposition. The Liberals' rapid leadership turnover contrasts with Labor's patient rebuild after 2013.