Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has publicly withdrawn her support for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, warning that the Liberal Party is in crisis and losing touch with voters.
In an interview with Sky News, Senator Henderson said a series of mistakes and a sharp decline in polling had weakened the party’s morale. “We’ve had a dire Newspoll result — a primary vote of just 24 per cent. Things are not travelling well,” she said. “Honestly, I do think Sussan is losing support.”
Pressed on whether she backed Ms Ley’s leadership, Henderson paused before replying: “I cannot support the way things are.”
The senator, who lost her shadow education portfolio after Ms Ley assumed leadership following the 2025 election defeat, said the party’s internal culture had deteriorated. “There’s a culture that has got to change. We’ve got to have very honest conversations,” she said.
Under Ley’s leadership, the Coalition’s support has plummeted to record lows amid weeks of internal divisions over energy policy and the party’s stance on net zero emissions. The Nationals’ recent decision to abandon their net zero commitment has deepened the rift between conservatives and moderates within the Coalition.
As tensions mount, Ms Ley faces growing pressure to unify the party ahead of a key joint meeting on November 16 to finalise the Coalition’s emissions and energy policy. Failure to do so could further destabilise her already fragile leadership.
