The Liberal leadership race is now a contest primarily between two candidates: Sussan Ley, the deputy leader, and Angus Taylor, the shadow treasurer, after Dan Tehan announced he would not be running.
In an official announcement on Friday, Ley confirmed her candidacy for the party’s leadership position, which will be decided by a vote on Tuesday.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who recently defected from the Nationals to the Liberal party, defended her decision, stating that she had consulted with her colleagues before making the move. However, this decision has been met with criticism from the Nationals, with party leader David Littleproud expressing disappointment and Senator Matt Canavan criticizing it as a choice driven by personal ambition.
Price clarified on 2GB radio that she had informed her colleagues, including Canavan, about her decision in advance. She emphasized the respectful manner in which she made the transition, having spoken to Ley and others beforehand.
As a senator from the Northern Territory’s Country Liberal Party, Price is entitled to sit with either the Liberals or the Nationals. She mentioned that she had initially wanted to join the Liberal party room but was expected to sit with the Nationals when she was elected.
Nampijinpa Price is considered a potential candidate for Taylor’s deputy in the Liberal leadership race, though she has not confirmed this possibility. Her defection to the Liberal party has raised concerns among moderate Liberals, who argue that aligning with Taylor could lead the party away from the center.
Price has also faced criticism for her previous statements that the Coalition would “make Australia great again,” which drew attention after images surfaced of her wearing a MAGA hat at a Christmas party, which she dismissed as a joke.
Marcus Stewart, a senior Aboriginal leader, commented on her defection, stating that the National party might feel betrayed, a sentiment often felt by Aboriginal Australians regarding political betrayals.
The Liberal leadership race is taking shape, with Ley and Taylor confirming their candidacies. Taylor welcomed Nampijinpa Price’s move to the party, while Ley emphasized the importance of her potential leadership in representing Australian women and modernizing the party’s policies.
Tehan, who was considered a potential candidate, announced that he would not stand for the leadership, focusing instead on helping the party reconnect with the Australian people and rebuild.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/09/sussan-ley-angus-taylor-liberal-party-leadership-contest
