The Liberal Party’s leadership crisis escalated on Thursday morning with the resignation of senior frontbencher Claire Chandler, triggering what party insiders expect will be a wave of further departures in support of Angus Taylor.
News.com.au confirmed the Tasmanian senator handed in her resignation early on Thursday, becoming the first member of the shadow cabinet to formally step aside amid mounting pressure on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
Ms Chandler had been serving as Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Shadow Minister for Science. Her resignation is widely seen as a significant symbolic blow to Ms Ley’s leadership, coming amid claims that she has not been given a fair opportunity to lead the party.
More frontbench resignations are expected to follow as the Liberal Party braces for an internal showdown.
The developments come after Angus Taylor resigned from the shadow cabinet on Wednesday night, declaring the party was in its worst position since its formation in 1944. While Mr Taylor stopped short of explicitly declaring a leadership challenge, he said the current situation was “unsustainable” and that strong leadership was urgently needed.
“The Liberal Party is at the worst position it has been since 1944,” Mr Taylor said, adding that he did not believe Ms Ley was in a position to lead the party forward.
The resignation of Ms Chandler has intensified speculation that a leadership spill is imminent, even though Mr Taylor has not formally requested one.
Attention is also turning to the deputy leadership, with reports that Victoria senator Jane Hume has begun sounding out colleagues about a possible bid. Other names being discussed include Zoe McKenzie and Tim Wilson, who regained his seat from the Teals at the last election.
Several senior Liberal women have publicly backed Mr Taylor, including Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Sarah Henderson, further fuelling claims that the crisis is not about gender but electoral survival.
Commentators have also weighed in sharply on the unfolding chaos. Sky News host Peta Credlin said Ms Ley’s problem was not sexism but collapsing electoral support, while conservative commentator Andrew Bolt described Mr Taylor’s resignation speech as underwhelming.
Not all Liberals agree. Frontbencher Andrew Wallace said a leadership challenge would be “undercooked” and warned that internal disunity could prove fatal for the party.
Despite those warnings, Thursday’s resignation has confirmed that the internal revolt against Ms Ley is now moving from speculation to action, with the Liberal Party facing one of its most volatile leadership battles in decades.
