Australia politics live: Tim Wilson ‘not interested’ in deputy role as Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley prepare for Liberal leadership spill | Australia news
Key events
Paul Scarr remains a loyal soldier to the embattled Sussan Ley, appearing on ABC News Breakfast this morning, and says again that she wasn’t given enough time.
He agrees with Jane Hume though, that no matter what the outcome, the party must unite behind whatever leader is elected.
Asked whether it’s a fait accompli for Taylor, Scarr says somewhat solemnly:
I think it’s going to be a very close result today.
I’m standing loyally by Susan, and I will continue to do so. I think she’s earned that support, and she’ll continue to have that support from me up to the party room
He’s also asked what impact the decision to roll the Liberal party’s first female leader will have on female voters. He doesn’t directly answer the question but does say he wants to see more women and more multicultural voters in the party:
I think we need more women standing as candidates for the Liberal Party. We need more people from our multicultural communities standing up for the Liberal Party and for the values of the Liberal Party.
Man charged with stalking for allegedly following Isaac Herzog in Sydney
Adeshola Ore
New South Wales police have charged a 45-year-old man for allegedly following Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, across Sydney this week.
In a statement, NSW police said the man will face court next month, charged with stalking and other offences, after allegedly following a foreign leader. Guardian Australia understands the leader is Israeli president Herzog.
Officers patrolling Herzog’s visit observed a grey Mercedes station wagon travelling on Darling Drive, Haymarket on Monday, a statement said.
Police allege the male driver pulled over and allegedly filmed Herzog while using offensive language towards him before leaving the area.
It is alleged the man also drove past a childhood education centre on Tuesday repeatedly before filming and using offensive language towards a security guard.
Liberals need to be ‘united’ after spill: Hume
Some are definitely more keen to speak than others at the parliament house doors today (where reporters are eagerly waiting to stick a microphone in their faces).
Jane Hume, says she will be nominating for the deputy leadership today (but not on a ticket with Angus Taylor), is definitely keen and stops to chat, saying “time is running out” for the Liberal party to turn its fate around.
She says the party is at a “critical juncture”, and warns that once the vote is over, the first thing that needs to be done is for the party to once again be united.
Liberal party is crying out for change. We’re at a critical juncture right now. Sussan Ley has been a diligent, hard working servant to our party and to the country, but unfortunately, we’re simply not cutting through now.
The most important thing that we can do today is to make sure that the Liberal Party, after this leadership spill, comes together and makes sure that we are a united team. That’s what Australians want to see. And the next thing we need to do is make sure that we develop that policy suite and articulate it to present a genuine alternative to this terrible labor government.
Liberals are trying to soften their tone on Ley today. Hume says the move “is not a reflection on Sussan Ley as a person. She is a very good person.”
Tim Wilson ‘not interested’ in deputy role as Liberals prepare for leadership spill
So far we know that Jane Hume and Dan Tehan will run for the deputy, but there are other names that are being floated.
One of those was Tim Wilson (who’s often made light of one day leading the party), but he ruled himself out this morning.
He says despite the speculation, he has “no interest” in the position.
Morning Australia! Having read a lot of speculation, I have advised colleagues that I have no interest in the Deputy Leadership. I love Australia, and I want a nation built on respect, where hard work pays off and Australians have more control over their lives. pic.twitter.com/CBGBpRIdNu
— Tim Wilson (@TimWilsonMP) February 12, 2026
Sarah Henderson confident Taylor will win: ‘We’ve got to turn this ship around’
Senator Sarah Henderson has joined Sky News this morning, confident her ally Angus Taylor will win the ballot this morning, and says her party will need to quickly release “meaty” policies to win the public back.
She’s less critical of Sussan Ley today, and says she “did feel for her” yesterday as colleagues lined up to resign.
It brings none of us any joy to challenge Sussan. She has tried her very best. She has a very long and successful political career. As I say, this very difficult times, and I really did feel for her yesterday … I’m not going to engage in disparagement of Sussan this morning, I’ve spoken before about the fact that we were not traveling well, and things have gone from bad to worse. We’re simply not competitive.
I’m really hoping that under Angus leadership, we will move very quickly to show what we stand for in terms of our migration policy, housing and of course, education.
Asked whether she should be returned to the frontbench, she says she “hopes” so, and says her colleagues Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Andrew Hastie should also be promoted. She calls them the “best people in the field”.
Multimillion dollar boost for support services for Stolen Generations
Members of the Stolen Generations will receive a multimillion dollar boost in support services, as the anniversary of the national apology is commemorated, Australian Associated Press reports.
Today marks the 18th anniversary of former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd delivering the apology to the Stolen Generations in federal parliament.
Survivors will be able to access $87m of support services over the next four years, which will include family tracing and reunification efforts.
The anniversary of the apology will be marked with a commemorative breakfast at Parliament House, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, giving an address.
Albanese will say the apology was an important step forward, but not the end of action.
The apology didn’t just look to the past – it was a call to action for the future. A call that was, at its heart, deeply patriotic, true to our abiding instincts for better, fairer, stronger Australia.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price ‘champing at the bit’ for return to frontbench
Conservatives are getting excited by the prospect of Angus Taylor becoming leader again.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price who was sent to the backbench after not endorsing Sussan Ley’s leadership and making hurtful comments about Indian Australians, and Sarah Henderson, who was booted from the shadow ministry after the election, are both hoping to feel the air in their hair from the frontbenches under Taylor.
Last night, Nampijinpa Price told Sky News she was “champing at the bit” for a return. She added that Taylor would bring the energy back to the party.
We need to have a sense of feeling like we’ve got some chutzpah.
Henderson, who’s become markedly louder in recent days to rally for Taylor, will also be popping up again in the media today.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.
Happy spill day! And may I also remind you, it’s Friday the 13th (make of that what you will).
There’s just one big story in the big House on the hill today and that’s the showdown between Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor. Though it seems less of a showdown at this point, with the numbers pointing in Taylor’s favour.
There’s plenty to get through, so let’s get cracking.
Patrick Commins
UNSW economics professor appointed to RBA interest-rate setting board
UNSW economics professor Bruce Preston has been appointed to the Reserve Bank’s interest-rate setting board, starting his five-year term in March.
Preston will replace Alison Watkins, a former boss of Coca-Cola Amatil who also sits on the Business Council of Australia’s board.
Watkins has been an RBA board member since December 2020.
Jim Chalmers announced the appointment to the nine-member monetary policy board on Thursday evening, saying Preston “is one of the most highly respected and experienced macroeconomists and he will do an excellent job”.
In addition to a couple of decades in academia, Preston has worked in the Reserve Bank and later as a senior adviser at the central bank and at Treasury.
Preston is seen as an uncontroversial appointment, especially after the sweeping review of the RBA’s operations and governance recommended more technical expertise on the monetary policy board.
He will get his first chance to cast his interest rate vote during the bank’s next two-day meeting from 16 March.
For the record, financial markets are pricing in only a 16% rate hike in March but that jumps to over 80% by the May meeting.
Isaac Herzog to leave Australia
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, is preparing to leave Australia after thousands took to the streets in a final wave of protests marking the end of a controversial week, AAP reports.
Herzog concluded his final closely guarded four-day visit in Melbourne yesterday where he met senior politicians and community leaders.
Despite the president declaring there was “hope in the air” in his final speech, about 10,000 people gathered on the steps of Flinders Street Station in defiance, saying he was not welcome.
The demonstrators remained largely peaceful, despite a small scuffle breaking out as Palestinian organiser Tasnim Sammak addressed the crowd.
Victoria police said special powers granted for the event were not used.
Among the speakers was Palestinian activist Muayad Ali, who criticised the prime minister’s decision to host the president in Australia.
“I never swear, but this is not diplomacy,” he said.
The protest was a far cry from the scenes witnessed in Sydney, where at least nine people were charged and 27 arrested after protesters were punched and pushed by police when an anti-Herzog rally turned violent.
Herzog said his visit to Melbourne had ignited a renewed sense of hope.
“I must tell you that we return to Israel feeling empowered because we have seen first-hand the beauty and resilience of this community,” he said.
Herzog said discussions with the Australian leadership to address “vile rhetoric, misinformation and shameful antisemitism” were conducted with candour, open-mindedness and a great deal of mutual respect.
The leadership spill is the culmination of a string of disasters in the recent weeks, writes Josh Butler this morning, which revealed fundamental disunity in Coaltion ranks.
These included the Nationals splitting from the Coalition (again) on the Bondi day of mourning, Ley’s critics were seen meeting in Melbourne on the day of Liberal MP Katie Allen’s funeral, Taylor’s resignation overshadowed the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, and rolling resignations came as the political classes were supposed to be showing solidarity on the day of the annual Closing The Gap statement.
As the spill was set for today, Josh writes:
The oposition as a whole looked more despondent, distracted and dishevelled than usual. Frontbenchers gazed around the room, texted on their phones; we saw one person whose name had been mentioned as a potential deputy leadership candidate (we won’t rumble who) literally twiddling their thumbs. Ley was quiet.
Read the whole piece here:
Liberal leadership ballot to start at 9am
All eyes will be on the Liberal party room this morning with the leadership ballot set to begin at 9am.
After a string of frontbenchers announced they would be backing him, Angus Taylor’s backers are confident he has the numbers to unseat Sussan Ley after only nine months in post.
Here’s our latest news story so you can get up to speed:
And there’s also the crucial question of who would be Taylor’s deputy as he tries to bring the more moderate wing of the party into his tent.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Krishani Dhanji will take the reins.
It might be a bit early in the day for popcorn but there is great political theatre to enjoy this morning as the Liberal leadership vote starts at 9am with Angus Taylor reportedly on track to oust Sussan Ley after only nine months in the job. We will be building up to the vote before then and will bring the best coverage as soon as it happens.
Meanwhile, it’s the 18th anniversary of the national apology to the Stolen Generations and there will be speeches to mark it, with the PM expected to give an address.
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, is preparing to leave Australia after thousands took to the streets of Melbourne in a final wave of protests marking the end of a controversial week. Herzog had been wrapping up his visit by meeting Jewish groups in the city but – in contrast to the scenes in Sydney earlier this week – the protests remained largely peaceful. More coming up.
