Australia news LIVE: Angus Taylor declares Liberal Party leadership intentions as Liberal MPs call for special party room meeting; Israeli President set to arrive in Melbourne
Duniam and Paterson quit shadow ministry
By Paul Sakkal
Two of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s most senior right-wing frontbenchers, James Paterson and Jonno Duniam, have now quit the shadow ministry to support Angus Taylor’s leadership bid.
More junior frontbenchers resigned earlier this morning, but Paterson and Duniam are more significant because they are in Ley’s leadership group.
Paterson was always expected to quit to support Taylor but Duniam, who was pushing for Andrew Hastie to run as leader, was not guaranteed to throw his weight behind Taylor’s bid.
Hanson-Young slams Taylor, blames him for last election failure
By Emily Kaine
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has delivered a scathing criticism of Liberal leadership aspirant Angus Taylor, blaming him for leading the party’s economic policy to failure at the last federal election.
“He failed as shadow treasurer. He led the economic policy at the last election for the Liberal Party, and got absolutely smashed. He failed when he was energy and climate change minister, people’s power bills went up. He’s failed to show loyalty to the current leader. He’s failed to be a team member. I mean, you know, fantastic. Good move. Well done Angus,” she said on Sky.
“If this is the best the Liberal Party have, this reaction from the community to mark down the Coalition across the board is going to keep happening.”
Taylor is poised to challenge Ley’s leadership in a party room meeting tonight or tomorrow.
Liberals Phil Thompson and Jess Collins, allies of Angus Taylor, this morning wrote to chief party whip Aaron Violi calling for a leadership ballot meeting to be held.
Libs directionless and lacking leadership, says frontbencher after resignation
By Nick Newling
Liberal MP Matt O’Sullivan has released a statement following his resignation from the opposition front bench, saying the party lacks the leadership and direction to offer an alternative to the government.
“Today I resigned from my position as shadow assistant minister for fisheries, forestry and infrastructure, effective immediately,” O’Sullivan said.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. However, I have reached the view that the Coalition currently lacks the policy clarity, leadership and strategic direction required to rebuild trust with voters and present a compelling alternative government.
“In recent weeks, my conversations with Western Australians have reinforced a clear message: hard-working Australians and their families expect more from us. They want a stronger plan, a clearer direction, and a Coalition that is focused on their priorities. If we are to rebuild trust and reconnect with the millions of Australians who feel increasingly disengaged and left behind, our party must chart a different course.
“I remain committed to serving Western Australians and to working constructively to ensure our party undertakes the serious renewal required to earn back the confidence of the Australian people.”
O’Sullivan joined Claire Chandler and Phil Thompson in resigning from the frontbench, with more expected. A party room meeting in which Angus Taylor will challenge Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s leadership is expected to take place either this evening or tomorrow.
Taylor declares intention to run for leadership in new social media video
By Nick Newling
Liberal leadership challenger Angus Taylor has released an Instagram video in which he has formally declared he is running for the party leadership.
“Our country is in trouble. The Labor government has failed, and the Liberal Party has lost its way. I’m running to be the leader of the Liberal Party because I believe that Australia is worth fighting for,” Taylor said in the video titled: “Why I am running for leader of the Liberal Party”.
Speaking from what appears to be a regional property – possibly at home in his rural NSW electorate – Taylor says: “I believe we need strong and decisive leadership that gives Australians clarity, courage and confidence in providing a vision for the future. We must start by holding this failing Labor government to account for their total mismanagement of our country and advocate for solutions to the problems that Australians are facing,” he said.
The video depicts Taylor in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, standing in a paddock, with dramatic music playing in the background. After his resignation yesterday, Taylor did not say he was challenging for the leadership. He posted the video this morning shortly after Liberal MPs Phil Thompson and Jess Collins delivered a request to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley for the party leadership to be spilled.
“I’m dedicated to serving you, the Australian people, and give you a strong alternative that re-enlivens the great Australian dream. I’m committing myself to the cause of restoring our party so that it can be the party that Australians expect and deserve. Because we’re running out of time and Australia is worth fighting for.”
Taylor backers want spill meeting today
By Nick Newling
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is in discussions with chief opposition whip Aaron Violi on the timing of a party room meeting in which a spill will be called, a Ley ally close to logistics has told this masthead.
The source said backers of Angus Taylor were hoping the meeting will be held this evening, but some senators caught up in budget estimates hearings today would like to see the meeting held tomorrow.
Ley’s office has yet to determine when they will schedule the meeting.
ANZ Bank profits rise after deep cost cuts
By Clancy Yeates
ANZ Bank made $1.9 billion in profits in the December quarter, as its expenses fell as a result of deep cost-cutting under new chief executive Nuno Matos, while its profit margins also moved higher.
ANZ Bank delivered an unaudited trading update for its first quarter, reporting cash profits that were 75 per cent higher than the quarterly average during the September half, which was weighed down by charges relating to mass job cuts and regulatory fines.
Compared with the same quarter last year, ANZ’s profits rose 6 per cent.
Matos has unleashed sweeping changes at ANZ since moving into the job last May, including cutting 3500 jobs and settling a series of high-profile lawsuits with the corporate watchdog.
Today, Matos highlighted the lower costs and higher revenue, saying these were a sign of progress in his plan to turn around ANZ’s performance.
“The quarterly result highlights the early progress we are making in executing our ANZ 2030 strategy,” Matos said.
“Our productivity program aimed at removing duplication and simplifying the bank is well under way, delivering a significant reduction in expenses while growing revenue.”
Herzog rejects protesters’ objections to his visit
By Michelle Griffin
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is on the final day of his official visit, meeting with Melbourne’s Jewish community before flying out of the country later today.
In an interview with Seven’s Sunrise, he again rejected protesters’ objections to his visit as part of the “enormous brainwashing with a lot of lies and blasphemy” Israel endures, and dismissed the finding of a UN Commission Inquiry last year that he and others incited genocide as a “total lie” from a “totally politicised” organisation.
In an interview with this masthead published last Saturday, Herzog said that while he did say “an entire nation” of Palestinians bore responsibility for the October 7 massacre of Israelis in 2023, he also said he supported international law and opposed the killing of innocent people.
While his visit has been marked by violent clashes between police and protesters and extensive security lockdowns, Herzog said he found an Australia “that was different from what was depicted.
“There is antisemitism. It is frightening and worrying. But there’s also a silent majority of Australians who seek peace, who respect the Jewish community, and, of course, want a dialogue with Israel.”
Bragg says Ley should be given more time in role, won’t back Taylor
By Emily Kaine
Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg has defended Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, saying she deserves more time in the role and an opportunity to deliver “substantial” policies.
“Sussan has policies on housing stuff, immigration stuff, ready to go. I think she ought to be given a chance to do that work.
“I think Sussan has been dealt a pretty difficult hand. She’s a tough person, and I think she ought to be given more time in the role, as I think most normal people would expect 12 months in a job is at least a reasonable attempt,” Bragg told Sky this morning.
Ley was appointed leader in May last year.
Pressed on whether he would support Taylor as leader, Bragg said, “It’s not clear to me what the alternative vision for Australia is.”
Liberal MPs call for special party room meeting to hold leadership ballot
By Paul Sakkal
Two Liberal MPs have called for a special party room meeting to hold a leadership ballot.
Liberals Phil Thompson and Jess Collins, allies of Angus Taylor, this morning wrote to Chief whip Aaron Violi calling for a meeting to be held.
This letter is a formal step that must be taken before the leader can call a meeting, likely to be held later tonight or tomorrow.
Thompson and another frontbencher, Matt O’Sullivan, have also quit the shadow ministry just now.
‘Deep thinker and a great intellect’: Hume weighs in on Angus Taylor
By Nick Newling
Liberal moderates Jane Hume and Tim Wilson have both refused to say who they would back in leadership spill expected to be called today or tomorrow, as they offered compliments to challenger Angus Taylor.
Hume is expected to run for the deputy leadership should Taylor successfully topple Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Asked about her voting intentions in the potential spill, Hume said of record-low polling: “The problem is, if nobody is listening to us we are not a credible alternative, and something has to change.”
The senator went on to offer a glowing reference of Taylor, saying: “He is a very deep thinker and a great intellect in our party. He’s got incredible experience at a number of portfolios ... He’s very good in city seats, but he comes from a country seat himself and is, naturally, a country boy … he’s a very human human”.
Wilson, also speaking to 2GB radio, said he would support the leader, but was “waiting to see who the candidates are” before making a decision.
“If a motion to spill the leadership is successful, I want to hear out the candidates, because what I want is clarity and vision about where we need to go, because we do need to be revealing clearly who we’re fighting for,” Wilson said.
Wilson said that Taylor was “a great bloke” but said he would make any decisions on the leadership based on “who has the courage to stand up and fight”.
