What we learned: Friday 13 February
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening.
This is what made the news:
Angus Taylor has been elected the new leader of the Liberal party, defeating Sussan Ley in a partyroom ballot.
Jane Hume was elected deputy, defeating incumbent deputy Ted O’Brien.
Ley announced she would retire from politics, triggering a by-election in her seat of Farrer.
It will likely be a hotly-contested byelection, with One Nation, the independent from the last election, and Nats all likely to run against the Liberals.
In his first speech as leader, Taylor signalled the Liberal party would focus on lowering the rate of immigration and said if “someone doesn’t subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut”.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said people describe Taylor as “the best-qualified idiot they’ve ever met”.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, said of the leadership change that it was the “different jockey, same dead horse.”
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said there is no room for complacency on closing the gap.
NSW’s independent police oversight body says it will conduct an investigation into the operation at a protest against Isaac Herzog’s Australian visit at Sydney town hall on Monday, including “alleged misconduct”.
The destruction of Australian war graves by Israeli Defense Force bulldozers in Gaza will be investigated by the Israeli government, the country’s president has promised.
New South Wales police charged a 45-year-old man for allegedly following Herzog across Sydney this week.
Five reptiles, one marsupial, a fish, an insect, a mollusc and twenty-five plants (including a seaweed) have been added to Australia’s threatened species list.
Until next time.
Updated
Taylor has a mandate, Liberal MP says
Liberal MP Andrew Wallace is next up on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing. He was a Sussan Ley supporter, but said he hopes the party can draw a line under the leadership now.
As a result of today, the results were an emphatic outcome, a very supportive outcome and Jane Hume and [Angus Taylor] now have a mandate. He has a licence to put his stamp of approval on new policies to take us forward and I look to being part of that team.
Wallace said he walked in with Ley as he is a loyal person, and wore his heart on his sleeve. He said he believes Ley is the best person for the job and wanted to demonstrate that.
The party room has spoken and, you know, I support the leader.
He said he hasn’t spoken to Taylor about keeping the shadow attorney general role, and said it was up to Taylor.
He’s got bigger fish to fry at the moment, Olivia. I’ll give him space and if Angus sees a future for in whatever he sees appropriate then, you know, I’ll accept that. But that’s a matter entirely for Angus and I respect the outcome.
Updated
