Close-up collage of Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley highlighting the Liberal Party leadership change after Taylor’s victory in the internal ballot of Australia’s opposition.

Angus Taylor Defeats Sussan Ley in Party Ballot

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Angus Taylor Defeats Sussan Ley in Party Ballot

Australia’s opposition has entered a fresh phase of leadership that changed after Sussan Ley lost a party ballot to Angus Taylor. The result ended her brief nine-month tenure as the first woman to lead the Liberal Party of Australia. The internal vote, which was held on Friday, delivered Taylor a clear victory of 34 votes to 17. Thereby, it concluded a week of mounting speculation about a possible challenge.

A side-by-side collage showing Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley after Taylor defeated Ley in the Liberal Party leadership ballot, marking a leadership change in Australia’s opposition.

Taylor, who had publicly declared his intent to contest the leadership earlier in the week, described his election as “an immense honour” in a social media post. He also confirmed that he is looking forward to working with the party’s new deputy leader, Jane Hume. Meanwhile, Ley announced that she would resign as a Member of Parliament and step away “completely and comprehensively from public life”.

Internal Divisions Weaken Ley Before Taylor Ballot Win

Although Ley rose to the leadership following the Coalition’s heavy election loss last year, her position remained uncertain from the outset. The Liberal-National Coalition experienced persistent internal disputes during its leadership. As a result, it split twice in recent months. Moreover, disagreements over energy as well as climate policy prevented the alliance from reaching a unified explanation for its defeat at the hands of the Australian Labor Party.

Recent polling further intensified concerns within party ranks. Surveys showed that the One Nation, which secured just 6% of the national vote in the last election, had moved ahead of the Coalition into second place. At the same time, Ley’s personal approval ratings remained weak, which added pressure on her leadership amid growing factional tensions.

Ley Steps Down as Taylor Takes Charge

Soon after the results were announced, Ley told reporters that she harbored “no hard feelings” towards her successor. However, in an apparent reference to the infighting that marked her time in office, she added that it was important the new leader get “clear air, something that is not always afforded to leaders”.

Taylor, a former management consultant who entered parliament in 2013, previously served as a minister under Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Reflecting on her leadership, Ley admitted that it had been “very tough” at times but added that “I was part of the early punk rock movement in Canberra, I will continue to find wisdom in one of punk’s defining themes, a fearless and honest belief in yourself”.

Web Resources on Angus Taylor-Sussan Ley Leadership Contest

1. BBC.com: Does Australian politics still have a problem with women?
2. TheGuardian.com: Angus Taylor becomes opposition leader after defeating Sussan Ley
3. ABC.net.au: It took 80 years for a woman to become Liberal leader, and 9 months to ditch her

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