The federal Coalition has plunged deeper into crisis as dumped frontbencher Jane Hume delivered a blistering assessment of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, declaring the party was “running out of time” as catastrophic polling and internal unrest fuel renewed leadership speculation.
The attack comes as fresh Newspoll figures reveal the Coalition’s primary vote has slumped to just 18 per cent — its lowest level in decades — while One Nation has surged to 27 per cent, overtaking the Liberals and Nationals combined. The result has intensified talk of an imminent leadership challenge from shadow defence spokesman Angus Taylor, potentially as early as this week.
Ms Ley, already battered by two recent Coalition splits with the Nationals and sustained internal dissent, is now the most unpopular major party leader in 23 years. Senior MPs privately concede her leadership is hanging by a thread.
Jane Hume breaks silence
Victorian Liberal Senator Jane Hume, who was recently removed from the frontbench, did not hold back when asked about the dire state of the party.
“We have to do something different, and we have to do it soon,” Senator Hume said in Canberra.
“This cannot be blamed on anyone else. It has to come back to the leadership that we are facing today.”
She said Liberal and National MPs were reporting deep embarrassment in their electorates, warning voters no longer recognised the party.
“My colleagues are saying they are embarrassed when they go home. This isn’t who the Liberal Party is — and it isn’t who the National Party is either,” she said.
Ley digs in
Despite the mounting pressure, Ms Ley used a round of breakfast television interviews on Monday morning to insist she would remain leader until the next federal election.
“Millions of Australians are frustrated,” she told Sunrise.
“They don’t see a clear, united message coming out of Canberra, and they mark us down. But we’ve resolved our differences and strengthened our processes.”
However, senior Liberal figures have privately acknowledged the damage inflicted by weeks of public infighting.
Senator James McGrath described the polling as “horrible” and conceded the party had paid a heavy price for turning its fire inward.
“I’m not going to sprinkle gold dust on a cow pat,” he told ABC Radio.
Coalition reunites — again
The Coalition confirmed on Sunday it had formally reunited after weeks of negotiations, marking the second breakup and reunion since the 2025 federal election.
In a joint statement, Ms Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud acknowledged the turmoil had unsettled supporters, while pledging to focus on the future.
Ms Ley said she “100 per cent” trusted Mr Littleproud and was confident the Coalition would not fracture again — despite reports of an explosive private confrontation between the two leaders.
Explosive clash with Littleproud
According to Liberal sources, Mr Littleproud privately demanded Ms Ley resign during an “unhinged” phone call marked by shouting and fury.
Ms Ley reportedly urged restraint out of respect for the national day of mourning for the Bondi massacre, but Mr Littleproud insisted that axed Nationals MPs be reinstated, declaring no Nationals member was prepared to serve on her frontbench.
Mr Littleproud later confirmed the depth of the breakdown, stating publicly that the Coalition was “untenable” while Ms Ley remained leader.
Leadership funeral looms
The turmoil has emboldened leadership manoeuvring. Angus Taylor is widely seen as positioning himself for a challenge, with discussions under way about a possible reshaped frontbench should he succeed.
Andrew Hastie, who briefly flirted with a leadership run, is now tipped for a senior economic portfolio if Mr Taylor prevails, while Senator Jacinta Price is also expected to return to the frontbench after raising concerns about being sidelined.
As internal divisions worsen and voter support collapses, Coalition MPs fear the party is drifting towards electoral irrelevance unless decisive action is taken — and soon.
