On the morning former Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s immigration policy was supposedly due to be announced, it found its way into the hands of the media.
A document, first leaked to Sky News and seen by Capital Brief, was circulated by Ley’s backers and appeared to show she was on the cusp of unveiling a hardline stance before she was dumped.
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Senior Liberals quickly lined up to insist the document had not gone to shadow cabinet and was not party policy. But immigration is shaping as a defining issue for the Liberals as they grapple with a One Nation surge and try to hold the centre.
The damage — or at least the disruption — was done.
For Angus Taylor, attempting to project authority after months of Liberal infighting, it was an unwelcome reminder of the bloodletting that installed him just days ago.