Tony Abbott Launches Public Attack on Liberal Leader Sussan Ley
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has issued a stark public warning to his own party, demanding the immediate replacement of current Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Abbott delivered his blunt ultimatum during a Wednesday evening book signing event in Sydney for his new publication, Australia: A History, after being questioned by an audience member about the party's future direction.
"We Need a Leader with Points of Difference"
Addressing Liberal members gathered at The Greengate Hotel in Killara, Abbott made his position unmistakably clear. "We need a leader that has at least some points of difference," he declared. "And we need to do it quick or we're dead in the water." His comments represent a significant escalation in internal party tensions, coming directly after the Coalition's dramatic split over the government's controversial hate-crime legislation.
Speculation about Ley's leadership future has intensified following the parliamentary breakdown, compounded by the party's declining performance in recent opinion polls. The legislation, which bans hate groups and increases penalties for hate speech in response to the Bondi terror attack, triggered the Coalition rupture when Nationals MPs broke ranks to vote against the laws.
Moderate Liberals React with Fury
Moderate Liberals supporting Ley reacted with anger to Abbott's intervention, branding his public remarks "deeply unhelpful" particularly because they were delivered in front of rank-and-file party members. The public nature of the criticism has exposed deep divisions within the Liberal ranks as potential leadership contenders begin positioning themselves.
Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor and conservative backbencher Andrew Hastie have both emerged as potential challengers for the leadership. In a newsletter circulated to supporters on Australia Day, Hastie appeared to signal his leadership ambitions while outlining his long-standing concerns about immigration levels. "After the Bondi attack, these concerns can no longer be dismissed," he wrote. "Politics as usual just isn't going to cut it. What we're doing now just isn't working. Australians are asking for something new."
Leadership Challenge Momentum Builds
Hastie's pointed message followed Taylor's refusal to rule out challenging Ley's leadership as momentum for a potential spill continues to build. "The Liberal Party has got a lot of work to do," Taylor told The Australian newspaper on Monday. When pressed further on the leadership issue, the opposition defence spokesman indicated he was constrained in his comments due to his shadow cabinet position.
"What's required is us showing to Australians that we are united and that we have a clear sense of purpose that is about addressing their challenges," Taylor stated, carefully avoiding direct confirmation or denial of leadership ambitions.
Party sources indicate that Liberals are reluctant to detract from former MP Katie Allen's funeral scheduled for Thursday, suggesting any leadership spill is more likely to occur when parliament returns the following week. This timing would allow for proper internal party processes while respecting the period of mourning.
Ley Maintains Confidence Amid Growing Pressure
Speaking on Australia Day, Ley insisted she was "absolutely not" of the belief that her leadership was finished. Her position received public backing from four senior Liberals on Tuesday, with opposition immigration spokesman and moderate Paul Scarr declaring his "100 per cent support" for the embattled leader.
"Sussan has demonstrated, since becoming leader, how she's been able to navigate some very, very difficult issues," Senator Scarr affirmed. Industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson echoed this support while confirming he would not be contesting the leadership himself.
Wilson offered a colourful comparison regarding the Coalition split, suggesting the Liberals were better off without the Nationals. He likened David Littleproud's decision to break up the Coalition to former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce's infamous incident lying on a Canberra footpath after a drunken night out in 2024. "Littleproud has basically replicated the political consequences of Barnaby Joyce on the Braddon pavement," he told Sky News. "They've hit it flat. It hasn't worked. What we need is leadership."
Leadership Numbers Remain Unclear
Both Senator Scarr and Wilson confirmed they had not been approached by either Taylor or Hastie to assess support for a potential leadership challenge. "At the moment there is no announced challenge. There is no announced intention to seek a spill," Senator Scarr clarified, though internal party sources suggest this situation could change rapidly.
As support for Hastie's potential candidacy grows among conservative elements, his backers reportedly hope that Taylor might withdraw from any contest to avoid splitting the vote. Meanwhile, Ley maintained on Monday that her door remained open to reunifying with the Nationals, despite the recent parliamentary rupture over hate-crime legislation.
The public airing of these internal divisions represents a significant challenge for the Liberal Party as it attempts to present a united front to voters. With Abbott's intervention adding fuel to existing leadership tensions, the coming parliamentary sitting week promises to be crucial in determining whether Ley can maintain her position or whether the party will heed her predecessor's call for immediate change.
