The Liberal Party is facing a leadership vacuum following Peter Dutton’s loss in the 2025 federal election.
The party was reduced to just 39 seats in the House of Representatives after a crushing defeat, with Dutton losing his seat in Dickson.
With voters turning away in record numbers, the party’s on the hunt for a new leader and a fresh direction.
On Monday afternoon’s episode of The Briefing, we sat down with 7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley to discuss what went wrong and what comes next.
Riley suggested that the numbers within the party room favour Angus Taylor, a prominent figure from the New South Wales right faction.
“The numbers would be behind Angus Taylor… the Queensland right of the party is more probably the largest single group within the party room and they would be more likely to shift behind Angus Taylor than the other candidates who’ve emerged,” Riley said.
However, some party members express reservations about Taylor’s leadership.
New South Wales Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes has criticised him for lacking clear economic policy direction.
“Apparently Angus Taylor and Dan Tehan are going to have a ticket together and as a party that clearly has a problem attracting the votes of women,” she said.
“I’m really not sure putting up two more than middle-aged white guys who are both in the hard right of the party as leaders is going to say to the Australian people we’ve learnt any lessons at all.”
Sussan Ley, the current Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Women, Industry, Skills and Training, is another potential candidate.
However, Riley points out that while she could serve as a progressive face for the party, “she doesn’t have the numbers in the party room”.
“She’s some of a gender that the Liberal party hasn’t gone to, ever, as a leader.”
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