Liberal deputy Jane Hume has brushed off suggestions that the resignation of former leader Sussan Ley played a decisive role in the Coalition's devastating loss in the Farrer by-election, claiming that voters barely raised her departure during the campaign.
Speaking to Sky News host Andrew Clennell on Sunday, Hume issued a subtle dig at her former boss following her conversations with voters before and on polling day on Saturday. Daily Mail understands that Hume was a key player in the removal of Ley's leadership earlier this year, prompting the long-time MP's decision to quit politics and spark a by-election.
'It was interesting on the booth, though. No one mentioned Sussan Ley to me, not in pre-poll, and not on election day,' Hume said.
She rejected claims that Ley's decision to quit politics had backfired on the Coalition or reflected 'sour grapes', insisting it was a natural transition after a lengthy parliamentary career.
'Look, I don't think that that's the case at all. She's (Ley) a long-serving local member. She's now retired and it's time for the Coalition to move on to the next phase,' Hume said.
One Nation's David Farley won the by-election, with Pauline Hanson making history, winning her first ever seat in the House of Representatives under her party name. His predecessor, Ley, who was first elected in 2001, released a statement on Saturday night following the result, warning the Liberal leadership and party must accept the result 'with humility'.
Hume issued the subtle dig after Sussan Ley released a pointed statement against the Liberal leadership on Saturday night.
'I urge the Liberal leadership to accept this result... because the voters never get it wrong,' Ley wrote. 'Serving the people of Farrer for 25 years, having been endorsed by locals at nine elections, was the privilege of my professional life.'
Ley rejected attempts to attribute the loss to campaign timing or internal division, arguing the scale of the defeat required deeper introspection. 'It would be an error to reduce both the scale and significance of tonight's defeat to a Coalition split which occurred months ago, or to misattribute it to the date the vote was held,' she added.
Ley also referenced the party's leadership turmoil earlier this year, taking a dig against leader Angus Taylor, who said the party needed to 'change or die', after Ley lost the leadership battle to him. 'On the day the leadership spilled in February, the new leader said the Liberal Party needed to 'change or die'. Three months later, the result in Farrer demonstrates that statement to be far truer today than it ever was then,' Ley said.
The Liberals recorded its worst result in Farrer’s history, with candidate Raissa Butkowski securing a primary vote of just 10 per cent, down sharply from the 43 per cent Ley achieved at the 2025 election just 12 months ago. In contrast, One Nation surged to victory after dramatically lifting its primary vote from just six per cent in 2025 to 39 per cent, as counting continues.
Farley led the two-candidate-preferred vote at 58 per cent, ahead of independent Michelle Milthorpe on 42 per cent. Hume acknowledged the by-election loss was difficult but insisted voters were sending a broader message about national issues, including dissatisfaction with the Albanese Labor government.
'Nobody likes a by-election, particularly so close to the last election. That was why we always knew it was going to be tough,' she said. 'People resented going back to the polls, and when they did go back to the polls, they wanted to send a message to Canberra. We've heard that message loud and clear.'
The deputy leader emphasised that the Coalition must now respond by presenting a stronger alternative to Labor, arguing voters were concerned about economic management. 'What we now need to do is listen to the message that the people of Farrer were telling us, and that is that they wanted to see a strong Coalition,' Hume said.
