News
13 February, 2026
Taylor in, Ley out in a decisive win
BREAKING: Angus Taylor is now the new leader of the Federal Opposition, after a decisive win of 34 votes to 17 in the party room leadership spill held about an hour ago.
BREAKING: Angus Taylor is now the new leader of the Federal Opposition, after a decisive win of 34 votes to 17 in the party room leadership spill against former leader Sussan Ley held about an hour ago.
His deputy will be Jane Hume, the first senator to hold the role since 1990, according to the ABC.
Taylor and Hume will face the media in a press conference at 11am.
Senator Hume was up against three other contenders in Ted O'Brien, Dan Tehan and Melissa Price.
Ms Price was eliminated first with two votes, and Tehan second with 11.
In the remaining vote between Senator Hume and Minister O'Brien, Senator Hume prevailed 30 votes to 20.
Taylor, the Federal Member for Hume, quit the shadow front bench on Wednesday night and was expected to challenge Sussan Ley as Liberal leader as soon as yesterday.
Taylor was formerly the Shadow Defence Minister, and in a recent reshuffle by Ley was given the Shadow Veterans Affairs portfolio.
He also served as Energy Minister under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and as Shadow Treasurer alongside former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Sussan Ley won the ballot to be opposition leader by a whisker after the coalition's disastrous election result in May of last year.
However, since Ley won the role as leader of the opposition, supporters such as Hollie Hughes and others have left the parliament.
Ley had been a sitting duck waiting for Taylor or Andrew Hastie to strike.
Hastie recently ruled himself out, allowing Taylor a rails run.
In a statement to the media outside parliament on Wednesday night, Taylor argued the present situation for Australians is 'devastating', and he will push to restore the 'standard of living'.
Taylor's seat of Hume previously saw him represent many in the Wollondilly, Southern Tablelands and Southern Highlands, but after a redistribution, the seat now encompasses much of the Wollondilly, including Picton, Tahmoor, Appin, Wilton and Camden.
Now that Taylor has the leadership of the Liberal Party, he faces an uphill battle.
The polls show Labor at 31%, One Nation at 27%, and the Liberal/National coalition at 18%.
*You Tube footage of Mr Taylor's speech during the press conference courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Wollondilly