Next week, the Liberal Party will select a new leader, with Deputy Leader Sussan Ley and Treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor both confirming their candidacies. Taylor’s bid has gained momentum following Senator Jacinta Price’s switch from the Nationals to the Liberals, where she is expected to run as his deputy.
Taylor expressed his excitement about Price joining the team, stating she is a valuable addition to the party. He noted, “I strongly welcome a strong, capable woman in Jacinta,” and emphasised the importance of expanding the Liberal Party’s representation. Price currently serves as a senator for the Northern Territory and is the Coalition’s shadow minister for Indigenous Australians.
Sussan Ley, representative of the party’s moderate faction, also announced her intent to contest for the leadership position. Party officials have scheduled a ballot for the leadership election on Tuesday at 10 am, following Peter Dutton’s recent departure as leader after losing his seat in the federal election held last Saturday.
Dutton’s loss in the Brisbane seat of Dickson, a position he had held for 24 years, to Labor’s Ali France has prompted the search for new leadership within the party. The upcoming election will not only determine the new leader but also indicate the direction and strategy the party plans to adopt moving forward.