Australian news and politics live: Angus Taylor elected Liberal Leader, Sussan Ley out

Sussan Ley has confirmed she will be resigning from Parliament in a few weeks, without providing a specific date.

That means a by-election will be called in her NSW Federal seat of Farrer, something many speculate will not be won by another Liberal due to intense campaigning from a Climate-200-backed candidate who ran in the 2025 election.

Sussan Ley has confirmed she will be resigning from politics.

“It is important that the new leader gets clear air, something that is not always afforded to new leaders,” she said.

“I will be spending the next couple of weeks thanking the amazing people of Farrer.

“Shortly thereafter, I will be tendering my resignation.

“I’m not sure what comes next for me. I’m looking forward to stepping away, completely and comprehensively away from public life.”

“When I came to the leadership of the Liberal Party, my mother had just died,” Ms Ley said.

“One of the last things she said was, when something ends in sadness, don’t dwell on the disappointment, be grateful that you had it at all.

“So today, I want to express gratitude to the Liberal Party that I have belonged to for half of my adult life.

“To the party room who elected me as their leader nine months ago, and to the parliament of Australia that has been the most extraordinary workplace for the last 25 years.”

Ms Ley said she “respects” the decision, and thanked the loyalty of those who supported her in the spill.

“For those who did not, I genuinely have no hard feelings,” she said.

“I wish Angus Taylor well. I know he has experience, energy and a drive.

“I will be cheering them on.”

Sussan Ley’s colleagues believed, before the leadership spill, that she would quit Parliament if she lost the leadership, an assessment backed by veteran Liberal strategist Tony Barry.

On Friday, Angus Taylor was elected Liberal leader in a secret party room ballot, ousting the first female Federal Liberal leader from her role.

If Ms Ley does decide to call it stumps, she will be leaving with one of the best pensions possible.

She’s entitled to a generous parliamentary pension, having been elected in 2001, three years before John Howard curtailed the scheme, and the view is she would see little point in hanging around.

Mr Barry warned her departure would set conditions ripe for an independent or minor party to take Farrer in a by-election, like independent Kerryn Phelps won the blue-ribbon seat of Wentworth from the Liberals after Malcolm Turnbull quit parliament.

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The Member for Farrer, as she is now called, Sussan Ley, will speak from Parliament at 10.30am AEDT.

Speculation is running rampant on whether the ousted former Liberal leader will resign fully from politics, something that would spark a dangerous byelection that could see the Liberals lose a seat.

Former Liberal leader Sussan Ley has left the party room in silence, flanked by supporters, after she lost the ballot to Angus Taylor.

Dean Smith told media it was “a good day for democracy”.

Sarah Henderson, when asked if she was happy with the result, said: “Yes, I am.”

New Liberal Leader, Mr Taylor, was able to evade awaiting media, as his office is right across the hallway from the party room.

He is expected to speak shortly.

Within minutes of Angus Taylor’s ascendency to the Liberal leadership, the Albanese government has released its first attack ad, highlighting his record as Shadow Treasurer under Peter Dutton.

“Taylor was the architect of Liberal policies for higher taxes, bigger deficits, more debt, getting rid of work from home, sacking tens of thousands of frontline workers and a $600b taxpayer funded nuclear scheme”.

The Labor ad also claims he worked from “day one to undermine the Liberals’ first female leader”.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson is busy on his phone during the Liberal party leadership meeting, but unusually, he’s not texting ballot results, instead posting on social media.

“In the Party Room. Voting who the next Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. All @MaryAldree can talk about is getting to the Korumburra Agricultural Show. Clearly we ALL need to get to it,” he wrote on X.

Jane Hume was elected deputy leader after three rounds of voting sparked by four candidates putting their hands up.

Melissa Price was eliminated first, with only two votes, and Dan Tehan went out in the second round.

Incumbent Ted O’Brien lost out in the last round.

Sussan Ley walked in flanked by supporters before the leadership spill.

Angus Taylor, who has an office right across the corridor from the party room, snuck in quietly, alone.