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

“So many Australians can’t afford to buy a home,” he said.

“Australians who are working two jobs are juggling whether they can feed their families’ electricity bills.”

He also said he wanted to “re-establish home ownership as the centrepiece of the Australian dream”.

“We’ll stand for an immigration policy that puts the interests of Australians first, and puts Australian values at the centre of that policy,” he said.

“If someone doesn’t subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut. If they import hatred and want to import violence from another place to Australia, the door must be shut.”

Strong words from the new leader, and a clear repositioning of the Liberal party back towards its core base of supporters.

“Record immigration has added infrastructure and housing pressure in this country.

“Our borders have been open to people who hate our way of life.

“People who won’t embrace Australia, and who want Australia to change for them.

“We’ve had the worst terrorist attack on our soil in our history. Our soil, by Islamist extremists.

“And as Australians, we’re less free. It shouldn’t be this way. Labor has undermined our standard of living, and has failed to protect our life.

“And I say to Australians - the first priority of the Liberal Party now, under my leadership, will be to restore our standard of living and protect our way of government.”

“It is clear we are running out of time. I won’t mince words. The Liberal Party is in the worst position it has been since it was founded in 1944.

“I don’t shy away from that and I know that supporters are angry. They wanted to see change at the last election, and they didn’t see the change that they wanted.

“I’m particularly conscious that we got some big calls wrong. It won’t happen again.

“If an election was held today, our party may not exist by the end of it.

“We’re in this position because we didn’t stay true to our core values - because we stopped listening to Australians, because we were attracted to the politics of convenience rather than focusing on the politics of conviction. That ends today.”

The new Liberal leader says it’s the “greatest honour of his life” to be elected leader.

He acknowledges Jane Hume as his deputy and pays tribute to Sussan Ley.

“I also want to acknowledge Sussan Ley for her extraordinary contribution Liberal Party and to this country. She took on an incredibly difficult task after a humbling election defeat back in May last year.

“Her work ethic has been absolutely relentless.. She is a great person, a great Liberal.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised his former opponent, Sussan Ley, after she revealed she was quitting politics.

“She can take pride in the years of dedicated service she has given to her community, our Parliament and our nation.” he said in a statement on X.

“I have spoken with Sussan to wish her the best for her future.”

Sussan Ley’s salary has been slashed by more than $200,000 after losing the Liberal Party leadership.

Ms Ley, the party’s first female leader, was voted out as opposition leader on Friday morning in favour of Angus Taylor.

Until Friday, Ms Ley was making $442,649 per annum, made up of a base salary of $239,270 plus an 85 per cent loading, according to a 2025 decision by the independent Renumeration Tribunal.

Ms Ley now loses her loading, if she is sent to the backbench before her final day.

Senator Jane Hume, who moved from the backbench to become deputy opposition leader, will make an additional $137,580, bringing her total renumeration to $376,850.

Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie has paid tribute to the outgoing leader Sussan Ley after she was toppled by Angus Taylor on Friday morning.

“It has been a big and difficult week for my party, but today, we have a new direction forward,” she said in a post to social media.

“My thanks to Sussan Ley, who has led our Party since the May 2025 election.

“Sussan has led our political movement both as Leader and Deputy Leader with dignity, inclusion, curiosity and hard-work.

“Her story is one of enormous sacrifice, for Farrer, for Liberal values, and for our nation.

“Yesterday I spent some time with her, talking about her future, and mine.

“Her resilience, equanimity, honesty, and rawness were astounding. A lioness leaves our midst, with our gratitude for her grace.”

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says Angus Taylor is “absolutely not” the answer to the Liberal Party’s problems.

He urges his party to shift back to the political centre, ditch the cultural wars and talk about the economy beyond simple motherhood statements

But he feared the party’s far-right and their cheerleaders in the media would ensure that didn’t happen.

“They had control over Dutton, they burned it to the ground. They’ve now got their man in again with Angus Taylor. Will they do even more damage?” he told ABC TV.

“There’s not a lot left to burn.”

Mr Turnbull also gave a blunt assessment of Mr Taylor’s capabilities, saying, “The curious thing a lot of people say about Angus Taylor is he is the best-qualified idiot they’ve ever met.”

Liberal MP Ted O’Brien has paid tribute to Sussan Ley after announcing her exit from Parliament and avoided directly answering about the party’s relationship with women.

“Look, I can’t tell you about how this moment will be remembered in history,” he said.

“I do think today is an important day, because it just shows democracy at its best.

“Sussan Ley, I paid tribute to her. I have the utmost respect for her. I thank her for her service.”