Australian election news and updates recap May 8: Price may run as Taylor’s deputy in Liberal leadership tilt

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Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating has slammed Labor’s Right faction for axing Ed Husic in a factional fight for ministerial positions in the wake of the party’s thumping election win.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr Keating condemned the dumping of Mr Husic to elevate an MP from Richard Marles’ Victorian Right — a faction he said was “demonstrably devoid of creativity and capacity” — as well as the removal of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

“The factional displacement of industry and technology minister, Ed Husic, from the Albanese cabinet represents an appalling denial of Husic’s diligence and application in bringing the core and emerging technologies of the digital age to the centre of Australian public policy,” the 81-year-old said.

“More than that, as the cabinet’s sole Muslim member, Husic’s expulsion from the ministry proffers contempt for the measured and centrist support provided by the broader Muslim community to the Labor Party at the general election.

“And for what? To keep up some notional proportional count between factions and elements of the Right of the party between states, in this case between representatives of New South Wales and Victoria.”

Read more here.

A Liberal leadership showdown will take place in Canberra next Tuesday as the embattled party decides who will lead it after its Federal election defeat.

A joint statement from senior Coalition figures confirmed a party room meeting will be held on May 13 to elect a new Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition after their loss at the May 3 poll.

“The federal parliamentary Liberal Party will meet to elect a Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, as under our party rules these positions must be declared vacant,” it stated.

It comes as Jacinta Nampijinpa Price hinted to Sky News she would put her hand up for a leadership position with the Libs, after formally defecting from the Nationals to join the Liberals earlier today.

The statement was issued by Acting Leader Sussan Ley, Senate Opposition Leader Michaelia Cash, Acting Chief Whip Melissa Price and Senate Whip Wendy Askew on Thursday evening.

It also said the Federal Director of the Liberal Party would determine which MPs and candidates in undecided seats are eligible to vote.

“In relation to electorates where the outcome is uncertain and counting continues, the Federal Director of the Liberal Party is tasked with determining which members and candidates are projected to win and therefore who can participate,” the senior figures stated.

“With a bias towards enfranchisement, we have asked Mr Andrew Hirst to make these determinations by 10:00am on Monday, 12 May 2025 to ensure appropriate travel arrangements can be facilitated.”

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has hinted she is willing to take on a leadership role in the Liberal Party, after her earlier post-election bombshell she would shift from the National Party to the Libs.

Ms Price hinted she could contest for the deputy leadership on SkyNews and said she wanted to be part of putting forward something “for the Australian people they can get behind”.

“We need to be the voice for the forgotten people,” she told Sky News.

“That’s what we need to do going forward as the Liberal party … and that’s certainly how I will lend my voice going forward.

“This has been a massive step; I will not put any limitations on myself. I have always been led by the Australian people, and will continue to do so.”

The star Indigenous MP’s move has boosted the campaign of Mr Taylor to become leader of the Opposition. The male-female combination would elevate an Indigenous Australian to the upper reaches of politics for the first time.

Earlier today, Mr Taylor praised Ms Price’s decision and work ethic.

“Jacinta is a tireless advocate for Liberal values and a good friend,” he wrote on X. “Jacinta will be another strong voice at a time the Liberal Party must rebuild.”

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says he’s pleased Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has joined the Liberals.

The Coalition’s star Indigenous MP switched from the Nationals to the Liberal Party on Thursday, boosting the campaign of her fellow conservative, Mr Taylor, to become leader of the Opposition.

“I’m delighted by the news that Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will join the Liberal Party,” Mr Taylor wrote on X.

“Jacinta is a tireless advocate for Liberal values and a good friend. Jacinta will be another strong voice at a time the Liberal Party must rebuild.”

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud says he is “disappointed” Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has opted to sit with the Liberals this term, after her bombshell announcement.

“The Nationals negotiated an extra position in Shadow Cabinet before the election, to give Senator Nampijinpa Price a promotion and Shadow Ministerial opportunity,” he said in a statement.

“The Nationals were the first to lead the ‘No’ case in relation to the Voice, backing Senator Nampijinpa Price early and before anyone else did.

“Our strong stance led to an overwhelming majority of Australians voting ‘No’.”

Despite his disappointment, Mr Littleproud said he appreciated Ms Price’s ambition extended beyond the possibilities of The Nationals and “I wish her well”.

“The Liberals will need to rebuild after Saturday’s election and Senator Nampijinpa Price will play a key role in that recovery, while The Nationals are proud to have kept all of our Lower House seats,” he continued.

“The Nationals will continue to fight for regional Australia, which ultimately helps all of Australia.”

The Coalition’s star Indigenous MP, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, switched from the Nationals to the Liberal Party on Thursday, boosting the campaign of her fellow conservative, Angus Taylor, to become leader of the Opposition.

Party sources said Senator Price had been considering the move for months and timed the change to end the momentum that appeared to building for acting leader Sussan Ley to be elected the Liberal Party’s first female leader.

Mr Taylor is also pursuing newly re-elected Melbourne MP Tim Wilson. Mr Wilson, the only Coalition MP who has defeated a “teal” independent, has told colleagues that he would rather stay on the backbench, where he could speak freely on policy, rather than take a junior frontbench role, such as a parliamentary secretary, where he could have limited impact on national debates.

Senator Price’s decision to join the Liberal party room allows her to run as Mr Taylor’s deputy, a male-female combination that would elevate an Indigenous Australian to the upper reaches of politics for the first time.

Read more here.

Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton has slammed former Greens leader Adam Bandt after his concession speech earlier today.

Mr Dutton took to X to tell followers how he really felt about Mr Bandt’s loss.

“No spin by Adam Bandt can change the reality that he, and other Green members, lost their seats because of their appalling treatment of the Jewish community,” he wrote.

“Australians were rightly disgusted at their behaviour.

“We were proud to preference the Greens last, helping to ensure Adam Bandt’s loss.”

Although, his post didn’t receive too much love.

“One last parting gift and Service to Australia. Thanks PD, enjoy life as a civilian,” one reader wrote.

“Dude you just don’t get it. Australians were disgusted by LNP policy agenda. You had 3 years to deliver a message that would resonate in opposition and you didn’t deliver it. The policy offering was so bad even I considered voting for ALP,” replied another.

Others just laughed: “You lead the worst campaign I’ve ever seen in my life, yet want to throw shade at other people? Hahahahaha.”

The Greens are leaderless after Adam Bandt conceded the seat of Melbourne, with the former minority party leader revealing the three reasons he thinks he’s out of a job.

Almost 24 hours after the ABC and Sky News had called the seat, Mr Bandt on Thursday afternoon called Labor’s Sarah Witty and confirmed his defeat.

He blamed an electoral redistribution, a fear of Peter Dutton, and Liberal and One Nation preferences for his defeat.

Read more here.

AAP’s Tess Ikonomou reports: Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made movies amounts to a “tax on Bluey”, Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has joked at a high-level economics summit.

Speaking in Los Angeles, the former prime minister spoke out against the US president’s 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country.

Pointing to the popular Australian cartoon, Dr Rudd said, “I don’t think we want to see a tax on Bluey”.

“What happens if we all lock down our countries with competitive punitive arrangements against each other’s movies?” he said.

“Movies are the way in which we kind of understand each other more.”

Read more ​here.​