Liberal MP Angus Taylor has stepped down from his Shadow Cabinet position, as speculation about a leadership challenge against Sussan Ley continues.
Taylor, who was serving as Shadow Defence Minister, is considered the top contender to replace Ley.
He refused to confirm if he plans to challenge her at a press conference announcing his resignation on Wednesday evening.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
In January, the Nationals broke from the Liberals when voting on a bill to reform hate speech laws following the Bondi terror attack.
Unlike the Labor Party, the Coalition does not require its MPs to always vote with the party, unless they are in the Shadow Cabinet. This is known as ‘Shadow Cabinet solidarity’.
After breaking solidarity, three Nationals tendered their resignations from the Shadow Cabinet to Opposition leader Sussan Ley on 21 January.
Following the Shadow Cabinet walkout, National Party leader David Littleproud announced the Coalition had split on 22 January.
In a statement, Littleproud said: “Remaining in a Coalition with the Liberal Party under the leadership of Sussan Ley is untenable and cannot continue.”
Two weeks later, on 8 February, Ley and Littleproud announced the Coalition had reformed “to hold an Albanese Government that is failing Australians to account.”
“The Coalition is back together and looking to the future,” they said.
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Taylor
Taylor has been the Member for Hume in Sydney’s south-west since 2013.
He has served in ministerial positions including energy and industry. Until today, he was the Shadow Defence Minister.
After former Liberal leader Petter Dutton lost his seat at the 2025 election, Ley won the position over Taylor, 29 votes to 25.
Taylor and fellow member Angus Hastie were contenders to challenge Ley’s leadership, until Hastie took his hat out of the ring on 30 January.
Hastie has previously questioned the future viability of the party under its current direction.
By stepping away from the frontbench, Taylor can publicly criticise Ley’s decisions, and frees him to run for the leadership.
Comments
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Taylor said: “We can’t mince words. The Liberal Party is at the worst position it has been since 1944, when the party was formed. That is a confronting reality and we cannot ignore it.”
Taylor refused to confirm if he would run for the party leadership.
However, he said he doesn’t believe Ley “is in a position to be able to lead the party, as it needs to be led from here.”
