Liberal backers defend Ley as leadership showdown looms
As preparations continue to possibly oust Sussan Ley, leading Liberal supporters insist she remains leader of the opposition.
The leadership leak is taking shape in early February, when parliament returns after a week of chaos that resulted in the coalition splitting for the second time since the 2025 federal election.
Conservatives Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are seen as leaders challenging Ms Ley.
But Liberal frontbencher and moderate Julian Leeser declared he had his “unequivocal support”.
“At this time when Australia is in a period of national crisis, he has shown the leadership that the prime minister has failed to achieve,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
Asked whether Mr Hastie, who has spoken publicly about his leadership ambitions, would be effective in meeting growing support for One Nation, Mr Leeser said: “Sussan Ley is our leader and Sussan Ley is the person I support in that role.”
Liberal sources spoke of internal anger at Nationals leader David Littleproud for blasting the political alliance on Thursday; this is seen as an act of interference in the senior coalition party.
Mr Littleproud repeatedly denied asking for Ms Ley’s resignation in a phone call later in the week.
Three National Senators who resigned from the shadow cabinet after voting against Labor’s hate speech laws should be reinstated for the parties to reconcile, he said.
“This is the threshold question our caucus is asking,” he said.
“This was the threshold question given to Sussan, she was not ready to accept it.”
Three senators who voted against the consensus Labor bills broke the shadow cabinet solidarity agreement and triggered their resignations, which were accepted by Ms Ley.
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