Three's a crowd
Facing an uncertain electoral future, the Liberal Party must choose between competing visions for its revival in the wake of Peter Dutton’s historic defeat.
And then there were three. The contest to lead the Liberal Party has narrowed to Angus Taylor, Sussan Ley and Dan Tehan after 42-year-old Andrew Hastie, long considered a future leader, withdrew from the race.
The remaining contenders are offering sharply different pitches to colleagues as they seek to rebuild the party after last weekend’s historically bad election defeat.
Taylor, backed by the party’s Right faction, is attempting to distance himself from Peter Dutton’s lack of economic agenda despite serving as shadow treasurer. He has told colleagues in recent days that Dutton’s office blocked his efforts to pursue economic reform, including a proposal to index income tax brackets.
Taylor's pitch is that the Liberal Party is facing an existential crisis, arguing he is seeking the leadership to help save the party — fully aware he may never become prime minister.
