What we learned: Thursday 12 February
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening.
This is what made the news:
Ten Liberal MPs and senators have resigned from Sussan Ley’s frontbench today, ahead of the Liberal party spill meeting at 9am tomorrow.
You can read all the latest from Tom McIlroy and Dan Jervis-Bardy here, and Josh Butler looks at the good time Angus Taylor was having here.
The government sharpened their attacks on Taylor in question time, ahead of his challenge for the Liberal leadership.
The former shadow finance minister Jane Hume will put her hand up for the deputy when a leadership spill is called, as will Dan Tehan.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says protesters have the right to pray in peace, in response to questions about police breaking up a Muslim prayer at a Sydney protest on Monday.
Crowds gathered in Melbourne’s CBD to protest against the visit of Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, delivered his annual Closing the Gap speech.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allen, said the claim in a report the CFMEU’s alleged corruption had cost the state $15bn had not been well tested.
We’ll be back tomorrow bright and early before the spill gets under way. Until then.
Updated
It’s all about the maths
Tom McIlroy and Dan Jervis-Bardy are here with a wrap of the day’s shenanigans, as Angus Taylor prepares to take on Sussan Ley:
Well done, Angus
“As the gags about his political greatest hits rained down – “well done Angus”, the forged Clover Moore documents, his ineffectual tilt as shadow treasurer – Taylor was smiley and chatty,” Josh Butler writes:
Updated
Liberal senator who previously supported Ley resigns to back Taylor
The Liberal senator, Dean Smith, has quit the shadow ministry to back Angus Taylor’s leadership bid – the 10th frontbencher to resign on Thursday, ahead of tomorrow’s spill.
Smith’s resignation is a blow to Sussan Ley because he supported her in last year’s leadership ballot.
The West Australian senator, who is the shadow assistant minister for foreign affairs and energy and emissions reduction, informed Ley of the decision on Thursday night.
Updated
Palestinian activist’s speech interrupted in Melbourne
It looks like someone may have tried to interrupt Palestinian activist Tasnim Sammak’s speech at Flinders Street station in Melbourne at the protest against Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog.
“One moment guys” she said, as camera crews turned their attention to a scuffle on the side.
She then led the crowd in a chant before saying:
Let’s just keep it together.
She has continued her speech.
Updated
Australian eSafety commissioner named in Time’s top 100 influential leaders in health
The Australian eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has been named one of Time’s top 100 influential leaders in health.
Inman Grant was praised by the magazine for her execution of the federal government’s under 16s social media ban:
As Australia’s eSafety commissioner, she formulated the set of guidelines for what social media companies can and cannot do in her adopted homeland, where more than 97% of the population are online. She also advised the government, liaised with tech companies, and spearheaded its promotion to the public.
Inman Grant has changed the tide of the conversation. Now that she has demonstrated it’s legally and logistically possible to limit tech companies’ access to young people’s attention, parents in other countries are asking their governments to step up.
Updated
Greens MP address Melbourne rally against Herzog
Thousands have gathered for the protest against the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, in Melbourne with the crowd spreading down Swanston street.
Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri has just addressed the rally. She said Herzog should have never been invited.
What is going on? What is going on? When our government are rolling out the red carpet for the head of a state that is actively committing genocide.
She said Herzog should have been arrested “on arrival”.
That is the moral thing to do. That is the right thing to do.
Finishing up she asks the crowd to put their hand up if they have voted Labor in the past, before asking them “will you vote Labor?” Many in the crowd respond “never again”.
Come and talk to me if you’re one of the people saying never again. The Greens will always stand for humanity … we will always stand up for your right to protest.
Updated
Who has resigned from the Liberal shadow ministry so far today?
Angus Taylor’s camp is increasingly confident he will win Friday’s leadership ballot, amid a growing list of resignations from the shadow ministry.
Here’s everyone we know who has resigned since Taylor quit the opposition frontbench last night:
Dan Tehan (Victoria)
James Paterson (Victoria)
Jono Duniam (Tasmania)
Michaelia Cash (WA)
James McGrath (Queensland)
Phil Thompson (Queensland)
Leah Blyth (SA)
Claire Chandler (SA)
Matt O’Sullivan (WA)
Updated
Leah Blyth next to resign from Liberal frontbench
Shadow assistant minister for families and communities, Leah Blyth, is the latest resignation from Sussan Ley’s frontbench.
The South Australian senator posted on social media on Thursday afternoon, saying she respected Ley but planned to vote for Angus Taylor in Friday’s spill.
Matters are coming to a head.
My concerns are not about personalities. They are about direction.
Australians are anxious. Families are under pressure. Living standards are going backwards. Interest rates remain high and household budgets are stretched.
Blyth said the country needed a strong, disciplined and credible opposition.
It is time for us to listen to the clear message from the Australian people.
Updated
Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench, will run for deputy
Dan Tehan has quit Sussan Ley’s frontbench, the latest blow to the opposition leader’s position and another confidence boost to Angus Taylor.
The former shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction was a key supporter of Ley until about 5pm on Thursday.
He confirmed he would nominate for the deputy leadership in Friday’s ballot.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly,” he said in a statement.
If I am successful, there are four priorities I will make my focus.
We need to immediately unify, hold this dreadful Albanese Labor Government to account, develop a policy manifesto true to our values and make us match fit to win elections.
Updated
Crowds gather at Melbourne CBD protest against Isaac Herzog
In Melbourne’s CBD a large crowd has started to gather outside Flinders Street station, in protest at the visit of Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog today.
It stretches across the intersection and down towards Swanston Street. The vibe has been relaxed, with drumming and chanting before it begun.
There is a strong police presence with members of the evidence gathering team filming protesters.
MC Basil el-Ghattis says:
If you’re disturbed by our presence on this intersection … we are disturbed by the killing of innocent civilians.
We have matched for two and a half years for the rights of the Palestinians. We will continue to march. Because at this very moment Palestinians are being murdered.
Updated
Heavy rainfall warning issued for south-east Queensland
South-east Queensland residents are being warned to prepare for major downpours from Thursday night with potentially dangerous flash flooding and riverine flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that six-hourly rainfall totals of between 50mm and 90mm are likely, but some places could see up to 150mm.
A heavy rainfall warning area includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast and southern parts of the Sunshine Coast, and extends into the eastern parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt region. Areas farther west could also see large downpours.
The warning runs until midday Friday but the bureau said that could be extended, with forecasts for continuing rain in some areas for Saturday and Sunday.
Updated
Wong says people ‘have a right to pray in peace’ after ‘confronting’ scenes at Sydney Herzog protest
“People have a right to pray in peace,” the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has told Senate estimates, asked about footage of NSW police officers grabbing and throwing Muslim men to the ground as they knelt in prayer outside Sydney town hall during a protest against the visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.
“I think Australians believe people have a right to pray in peace,” Wong told estimates, responding to a question from Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi.
I believe many Australians would have found those scenes confronting, and I think it would have been particularly confronting for Muslim Australians. I found them confronting.
I would say that freedom of religion and the peaceful expression of different views is a core part of who we are.
Video shot at a protest in Sydney on Monday night showed about a dozen men, led by sheikh Wesam Charkawi, kneeling in prayer in two straight lines in the forecourt of Sydney town hall. The men did not appear to be blocking a road or marching, which is effectively banned in designated areas under a NSW law passed after the Bondi terror attack.
Updated
Peak body calls for independent review after teen allegedly injured during Sydney rally
Youth Action NSW, a peak body representing young people and youth services, says it is deeply concerned after the mother of a 16-year-old alleged her son was assaulted by police at Monday’s rally at Sydney Town Hall.
On Wednesday, Kefah Maradweh told ABC Radio Sydney she planned to press charges after her son, Nedal, alleged police pushed him to the ground, kicked him and restrained him before he was released without charge during a protest.
Nedal said yesterday:
They grabbed me by my keffiyeh, my scarf, and just dragged me, pulled me, kicked me on the floor, knee to my head, knee to my neck, and then put me in handcuffs.
Youth Action says any action where a young person is allegedly harmed in a public space should prompt “serious reflection about how we protect the safety and rights of children and young people in our community”, calling for an independent review.
The group’s CEO, Lauren Stracey, said in a statement:
Young people have the right to participate in civic life, express their views and be heard. They also have the right to safety. These rights are not conditional, and one does not cancel out the other.
All institutions, including the NSW Police, have responsibility to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in every interaction. The use of force against a young person raises serious concerns about how that responsibility is being upheld.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has refused to apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during the protest.
Updated
Cash to remain opposition leader in Senate
Here’s Michaelia Cash’s statement about resigning from the frontbench of the Liberals.
Cash says she will remain leader of the opposition in the Senate.
I have today tended my resignation as the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Following the events of recent days I believe the matter of the Liberal Party Leadership needs to be brought to a head.
Therefore, I will be voting for a spill of the leadership when the party room next meets. This makes it impossible for me to remain in Shadow Cabinet.
I am not resigning as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, a role bestowed upon me by the Senate party room.
I thank Sussan Ley for the opportunity she gave me to serve as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Updated
Victorian opposition leader addresses Jewish community
The Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, has just taken the stage. Both Wilson and the premier added in a Hebrew phrase to their speeches, to cheers in the room.
Wilson calls out the protesters against Isaac Herzog.
I know that, President Herzog, your visit sends a message of solidarity to Jewish Victorians that you are seen, you are connected and you are not alone. President Herzog, thank you for being here.
It (frustrates) me greatly that your visit to our country has been marred by the actions of a small number of detractors who seem to sow division at a time when social cohesion so desperately needed.
For my part, I will do everything I can to honour the Jewish community here and the people of Israel, and I will work to combat antisemitism and rebuild the security and sense of belonging that Jewish Australians need and deserve, so that Zionism becomes not a slur but a proud reflection of the Jewish you.
Updated
Michaelia Cash resigns from Liberal frontbench
Sussan Ley’s embattled leadership is weakening by the hour, with the opposition’s Senate leader, Michaelia Cash, resigning from the frontbench.
Cash, the shadow foreign affairs minister, is expected to vote for Angus Taylor in Friday’s spill motion. She is the eighth major resignation on Thursday.
Cash was a key player in Malcolm Turnbull’s downfall in 2018, despite serving as part of his cabinet.
Taylor’s supporters are growing increasingly confident the former shadow defence minister will win the ballot, set down for 9am at Parliament House tomorrow.
Updated
Victorian premier addresses Jewish community
In Melbourne at the Jewish community event with the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, the premier, Jacinta Allan, has taken the stage. She says Jewish Australians have consistently warned about rising antisemitism.
She says:
As leaders and governments, we take responsibility. Your warnings were clear.
And in parliament last week, I said something I believe deeply, the anger that Jewish Australians feel is not a sign of division. It is a sign of love, because it comes from the conviction that our country must be safe for one another.
Antisemitism shatters that conviction because it makes safety conditional. And when it is conditional for one, it is conditional for all.
She says she commits Victoria to protect its Jewish communities.
The freedom to light the menorah openly and proudly … and the right to live safely and peacefully in our synagogues, on our beaches and beneath our gum trees. Mr president, first lady, thank you for standing with Jewish Victorians.
Updated
Herzog ‘uplifted’ by Australia visit
Finishing up, Herzog says he and his wife leave “uplifted”.
We were coming to console the Jewish community on behalf of the State of Israel and the entire Jewish world. We came to salute the many heroes of Bondi and to reinvigorate the relations between Australia and Israel.
I can now say that while we came to give strength to all of you, we leave more strengthened than before. We came to offer inspiration, and we depart for Jerusalem inspired and energised.
Herzog finishes by talking about how the last hostage was returned home two weeks ago.
All our sons and daughters are home, so we know without a shadow of doubt that there is hope for our future.
So friends, with all the pain and agony of so many bereaved families in Israel and here, let us carry on and grow … together from strength to strength.
Updated
Herzog addresses Jewish community in Melbourne
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, has taken the stage to address the Jewish community in Melbourne.
The special event has been billed as the “pivotal public event” of his tour.
The security is exceptionally tight, the location a secret. Both the Victorian police and the Jewish CSG community security are here.
Hundreds of schoolchildren, members of Melbourne’s Jewish community and politicians including the premier, Jacinta Allan, and opposition leader, Jess Wilson, are present.
There are strictly no questions from media allowed.
Herzog says:
This week, I held meetings with the governor general of Australia, the prime minister of Australia, ministers, opposition leaders, governors and premiers and many opinion shapers. And I can tell you that all discussions with the Australian leadership were conducted with candour, open-mindedness and a great deal of mutual respect.
I found serious partners who are willing to hold serious conversations and address the vile rhetoric, the misinformation, the shameful antisemitism head on.
Herzog says it is “obscure and odd” how many police are needed to protect this event, and calls for “all protesters” to protest outside the Iranian embassy instead.
Updated
Thank you all for following along on the blog with me today. I’ll leave you now with the wonderful Josh Taylor for the afternoon.
I’ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow as we get ready for the Liberal leadership spill. Bring your popcorn!
Updated
TL;DR here’s what happened in question time
Labor didn’t hold back in their criticism of the Liberal party’s leadership battle, taking some pretty personal jabs at Angus Taylor.
The Liberals tested the government on a CFMEU report and the cost of living, pointing to some hefty expenses racked up by a couple of government departments.
Taylor Swift got another entry into the Hansard, with Chris Bowen joking about the number of questions the Nationals have asked him on the government’s $275 energy bill election promise. The Nationals are still trying to hold Bowen to account on the promise.
The independent MP Kate Chaney asked the government about what more it will do to increase safety in online spaces.
And the independent MP Zali Steggall asked Labor about whether it will use a defence estate for affordable housing as part of its sell-off.
Updated
Protesters on hand as Herzog arrives in Melbourne
The Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s arrival in Melbourne was marked by a small group of protesters but no violence, ahead of a larger rally in the city later on Thursday afternoon.
Herzog arrived for a lunch at Government House about 1pm with the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and governor, Margaret Gardner.
About 20 protesters lined the road to Government House, flanked by dozens of police. There were no scuffles between the groups, though police did search the bags of several protesters.
A protest is scheduled for 5pm outside Flinders Street station, with police saying on Wednesday that a crowd of about 5,000 was expected.
Updated
James McGrath resigns from Liberal frontbench
A seventh Liberal has announced he will resign from the frontbench.
In a statement, the Queensland senator James McGrath said he understands the decision “won’t please everyone”, but believes it’s in the best interests of Queensland.
While I realise this news won’t please everyone, it is important that Australia has a strong and effective Opposition.
I want to acknowledge the service of Sussan Ley as Leader of the Opposition, and I want to thank her for the privilege of serving in Shadow Cabinet.
Updated
After a final dixer to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese calls time on QT for the fortnight.
Before he gets up, Alex Hawke jokingly asks for no further questions.
Albanese laughs and says, “he’s not going to be leader of the house, let alone leader of government, Mr Speaker”.
Updated
Liberal party are the ‘experts’ on waste, Albanese says
The Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh is up next with another cost-of-living comparison, saying a Sydney mum Kate says she has to rely on a community pantry to make ends meet, while the department of foreign affairs “spent $17,930 on a Kylie Minogue impersonator at a Wellington food festival”.
Anthony Albanese says he understands the cost-of-living concerns, and lists a few government supports like urgent care clinics.
He then gets a bit louder as he shouts about the Liberal party’s record on “waste”.
I hope … she tells Kate about the $31bn blowouts associated with Inland Rail, the $39bn in cost blowouts for the NBN … That we actually paid the French $4bn to not build the submarines. We paid $1.8bn to victims of robodebt …
When it comes to waste, the Liberal party are the experts.
Updated
Bowen ditches the Taylor Swift references as he faces more questions on $275 promise
Did Australian families see the $275 reduction in their energy bills the prime minister promised 97 times?
The Nationals MP David Batt is the next to hold the Batt-on (sorry I’m going crazy here too), to ask Bowen to front up on Labor’s energy bill promise.
Bowen races through the answer and says:
Australians have had access to 230,000 cheaper home batteries to reduce their bills to nothing, including 44% of them in rural and regional Australia and including in the honourable member’s home state of Queensland 55%.
Updated
A luxury party boat for how much?
The Liberal MP and Sussan Ley supporter Melissa Price takes a similar line to her colleague and asks why Kylie, a single mum in her electorate, couldn’t afford a birthday cake for her child, while the department of foreign affairs could spend $17,295 on a luxury party boat in Sydney.
Anthony Albanese says he’s not aware of the boat party, but defends the spending and says the department can spend much more than that for diplomatic visits, including that of the Israeli president.
The Coalition looks on in confusion at the explanation.
We hosted someone over the last couple of days, and I assure you, the cost was more, a lot more, than that for the president of Israel to visit. That is what governments do through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we host people, and certainly I have hosted international leaders here and delegations.
He then says that if Kylie is working she would receive Labor’s tax cuts, and tells her to ask the Liberal party why it said it would repeal the cuts.
Updated
‘Algorithms can cause enormous issues’: PM questioned on social media safety
What will the government do to crack down on dangerous algorithms and build safe online and social media spaces, asks the independent MP Kate Chaney.
She says there is much more to do to create safe spaces beyond the government’s social media ban for under-16s.
Anthony Albanese takes the question and says the social media ban has “exceeded” expectations but agrees that it’s just a start and that there’s “more to do”.
We need to assert, as a country, not just as a government, that social media has a social responsibility, because algorithms can cause enormous issues. They can amplify rather than reduce prejudice.
People will say things online that they would never say to your face. That is a real issue that we have to confront.
Updated
‘He’s blowing up the Liberal party’: Labor MPs take digs at Angus Taylor
It looks like there’s been some line practising in front of the mirror today in the Labor party, as they try to deliver some feisty lines against Angus Taylor and the Liberals.
Earlier, Anthony Albanese hit Taylor with this:
While we’re building more homes for Australians, those opposite are busy tearing down their own home. They’re obsessed with cutting each other down, but they never want to cut your taxes, or cut the cost of living. They can’t stand each other, Mr Speaker, but they all stand for cutting Medicare.
The minister representing the minister for defence, Pat Conroy, also has a crack – with some defence-related jokes, which is the shadow portfolio Taylor held before he resigned.
Conroy says:
We’re acquiring stealth fighters. He was a stealth shadow minister. We’re investing record amounts in our submarines as part of the silent service, he was a silent defence spokesperson.
We’re focused on defence. He’s blowing up the Liberal party.
Updated
Independent MP probes government on environmental standards
Back to the crossbench, the independent MP Nicolette Boele asks the government about the power in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which allows states to be delegated approval powers that are traditionally federal ones with strong environmental standards in place.
She asks the minister if he will assure the public that “the states will not be given powers until all standards are finalised”.
Tony Burke, who represents the minister for the environment in the House of Representatives, says the standards are being written “at pace” now and the delegation will come after.
Getting the new standards is a number one priority and that is occurring. The new legislation comes into effect in tranches over the next year …
Anything in terms of delegation, there would have to have been for some time a functioning assessment agreement before there was consideration being given of approval.
Updated
You can feed grievance or address it, Albanese says
The Liberal MP Mary Aldred is next up, and asks the prime minister about the cost of living. She says a mother in her electorate has had to cut her children’s soccer and karate lessons while the Clean Energy Regulator has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars “to upgrade fancy meeting rooms”.
Anthony Albanese says Aldred, who was elected in 2025, should talk to Angus Taylor, who was shadow treasurer when the Liberal party said it would reverse tax cuts legislated by the government before the last election.
Albanese says:
What we have done is understand that people are under financial pressure. You can have two approaches. You can see grievance and try to just feed it or you can try to address it.
At the end of the answer, Speaker Milton Dick tells Philip Thompson (who was one of the MPs to resign from the frontbench today) to leave the chamber, saying hes “had a good go” with the interjections today.
Updated
‘It’s actually romantic,’ says Bowen on Nationals questions
Michael McCormack is the next Nationals MP to ask Chris Bowen about the $275 energy bill promise.
Bowen completely ignores the substance of the question and quotes a Taylor Swift song instead:
To paraphrase my favourite Taylor, “it’s actually sweet all the time you spend on me, it’s actually romantic,” Mr Speaker.
I won’t be thinking about the National party on Saturday, even if they’re thinking about me on Valentine’s Day, because obsession is just a little bit over the top.
For reference, for all my pop culture fiends out there, Actually Romantic is a song by Taylor Swift which was rumoured to be a sly dig at fellow singer-songwriter Charli xcx (of Brat summer fame).
Dan Tehan raises a point of order and Milton Dick tells Bowen the question was not about Valentine’s Day.
Bowen says he is connecting more renewable energy, which is the “cheapest form of energy”, into the grid.
Updated
MPs told ‘show some respect in the chamber’ as Chalmers and O'Brien trade barbs
Ted O’Brien is next to the dispatch box and asks Jim Chalmers to admit that debt will hit $1tn under his watch, after he “spent years dishonestly claiming others have hit this milestone”.
Speaker Milton Dick tells the deputy Liberal leader to take out dishonest from the question.
Chalmers comes in saying it’s nice Dick has called O’Brien the deputy. The opposition benches roar, saying “he is”, to which Chalmers replies, “for now” (cue a big laugh here). That leads to Dick giving everyone a warning to “show some respect in the chamber”.
Chalmers continues:
The pre-election outlook of those opposite in 2022, they had that crossing [of] the trillion dollar threshold two years ago … so the idea we would take lectures on debt from those opposite is preposterous, after the mess that they have left us and the effort we have put in into cleaning up that mess.
Chalmers then digs into O’Brien and Angus Taylor, who’s spending most of his time on his phone.
In all of the commentary that we have seen in recent days about the shambles over there, in every long list of possible deputy leaders and shadow treasurers, the member is not on it. He is the only person considered incapable of retaining his spot as the deputy leader of the Liberal party, Mr Speaker. But take some comfort from the fact that the last guy who failed as shadow treasurer now considers himself entitled to a promotion.
Updated
Nationals continue crusade on Labor’s $275 energy bill promise
Does the minister agree the Albanese government has broken its promise to reduce bills by $275 by 2025?
It’s the question the Nationals have been trying to corner the energy minister, Chris Bowen, on for months, this time by the Nationals MP Sam Birrell.
Bowen says there was a global energy crisis (after Russia invaded Ukraine) and the former Coalition government failed to replace outgoing power from coal-fired power stations shutting down. He quotes the Nationals senator Matt Canavan, who also made the argument that the energy wasn’t replaced.
The Nationals MP Darren Chester makes a point of order, and Milton Dick tells everyone to stop quoting “random people”, which gets a huge chuckle.
At one point Dick asks “the leader of the opposition” to stop interjecting, to which Albanese calls out: “Which one?”
Bowen quips, “I would never call Senator Canavan random”.
What do you do about it? Well, introduce more of the cheapest, fastest to deploy form of energy. Those opposite think the answer is more of the most expensive, slowest form of energy.
Updated
Nacc is independent, PM says, as Liberals pressure government over CFMEU report
The Liberal MP Tim Wilson continues pressing the government on what they’re doing about the CFMEU report, why they won’t refer it to the National Anti-corruption Commission, and how the government will ensure no taxpayer money has been misused.
Anthony Albanese speaks quietly and quickly, and says the Nacc is independent of government.
It is independent, that is how it has been established, they can look at what they want to look at and refer whatever inquiries they want and they should be allowed to do so without political interference.
Wilson stands up to make a point of order but the PM has already finished his answer and sat down.
Updated
Steggall calls on government to use defence land for affordable housing
The independent MP, Zali Steggall, who represents some of the wealthiest suburbs in Australia, asks the government whether its plan to sell off defence estates (including land in her electorate) will be used to build more social and affordable housing, and not worsen the housing crisis by selling the land at market value to developers.
She asks:
Will the minister take steps to ensure that this public asset is used for social benefit?
Jim Chalmers, who is representing the housing minister who is away, says he will speak to colleagues about the land in her electorate. Then he pivots to the government’s social and affordable housing targets. So no clear answer for now.
Chalmers says:
I know that you have raised it with us in good faith and we will check it out.
Updated
Ley targets Labor over CFMEU report in question time
Sussan Ley starts on the CFMEU report again, after reports that the administrator told the reviewer, Geoffrey Watson, to remove sections of the report that detailed allegations of the Victorian Labor government turning a blind eye to some of the actions of the union.
Ley asks whether the government will request the National Anti-corruption Commission investigate the issue, and ensure commonwealth taxpayers funds were not misused.
Amanda Rishworth, the workplace relations minister, gives a similar answer to what she did yesterday and says the report was commissioned by the administrator, Mark Irving, and was handed to the administrator, not the government.
Mr Irving released a detailed statement in response to the report, he will refer the report to the AFP, Victoria police, the Fair Work Commission and other relevant law enforcement agencies and regulators.
Updated
It’s question time!
It’s the last question time for the fortnight, and with Angus Taylor sitting on the backbench you can guarantee it’s going to get messy.
Speaking of Taylor, he’s sitting three rows behind Ley, looming over her shoulder. Make of that what you will. As he sits down, he shakes the hand of the Nationals MP Michael McCormack, who’s sitting on his left side, and the two exchange a big smile.
Updated
44% of university staff in ‘very high risk’ environments
More than four in 10 university staff are in “very high risk” environments compared with just 11% of the population, a new report has found.
Adelaide University’s inaugural Australian University Census on Staff Wellbeing, released on Thursday, ranked the internationally recognised Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) of Australia’s 42 universities based on responses from nearly 11,500 staff.
The tool is used to assess if senior management prioritises psychological health through leadership commitment, communication, consultation and workload management.
It found that compared with other large datasets of national worker populations, which showed about 11% had a high-risk PSC environment, 44% of university workers were in high-risk environments, pointing to a “sector-wide public health concern requiring urgent, coordinated action”.
Gabe Gooding, the national assistant secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, said university workplaces were “toxic” and having “serious impacts on their health”.
At every single ranked institution in Australia, senior management is failing to provide an environment that adequately protects staff from psychological harm.
Just 18% of university staff reported working in low-risk, or healthy, workplaces, compared with 54% of workers nationally. At the same time, 82% of university staff reported high or very high emotional exhaustion, nearly double the rate seen across the broader workforce.
Updated
Leadership spill ‘will be a competitive battle’, moderate Liberal says
While we know which way a fair few Liberals will be voting in tomorrow’s spill, some are keeping their cards close to their chest.
Dave Sharma, a moderate senator (and formerly the Liberal MP for Wentworth) is one of those, and won’t say who has his vote.
He told reporters at Parliament House a little earlier that he “respects” both Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor, and believes the vote will be tight.
I’m not going to be indicating publicly who I’m supporting but I would say that I know and respect both individuals, Sussan and Angus … To me the important thing is we resolve this issue. I think it will be competitive battle.
Updated
Queensland Labor tables claims Amanda Stoker told advocate abortion laws could change
The Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles has tabled claims that Liberal MP Amanda Stoker told the head of an anti-abortion group that the state’s laws could change next term of parliament.
Stoker, the MP for Oodgeroo, is assistant minister for finance, trade, employment and training, and a former Liberal senator.
“Cherish Life CEO Matt Cliff has said the member for Oodgeroo told him changes to abortion law could come next term. Is the member for Oodgeroo correct?” Miles asked.
He later tabled the text of a video from Cliff, in which he makes the claim in parliament.
The premier, David Crisafulli, did not answer the question, but said:
Regarding that scare campaign, I said there’d be no change, and there is no change.
On Tuesday, the Mackay MP, Nigel Dalton, crossed the floor to vote for a motion by Robbie Katter which would have allowed him to move to overturn a year-old gag on debate on the issue.
The deputy opposition leader, Cameron Dick, later asked about an interview Dalton conducted with the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe. The Mackay MP said he had not believed other members of his party at press conferences in the election campaign that there would be “no change to the abortion laws”.
Updated
Sussan Ley is on a social media tear today, with four Instagram posts and counting over the last four hours.
It looks like a counter pitch to Angus Taylor’s to keep the leadership.
See below her latest:
Meanwhile, Taylor is facing a lot of “Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus” comments on his social media.
Updated
Universities urge government to pass education commission legislation this week
A coalition of 12 universities have penned a joint statement urging the federal parliament to back the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (Atec) as the legislation is considered this week.
The statement, endorsed by Federation University, James Cook University, Murdoch University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, CQUniversity, University of New England, University of Southern Queensland, Edith Cowan University, University of Canberra, Flinders University and Western Sydney University, said the Atec was “in the best interest of students and communities across the country”.
The independent body was a recommendation of the Universities Accord to act as a steward for the tertiary sector to design future reforms, including fixing the widely canned Job-ready Graduates scheme.
The statement read:
We want the bill to pass and will engage proactively to ensure that the legislation is as strong as possible. Decisions made over the next five years will determine our ability to meet the ambitious 2050 goals of the Universities Accord. We support the focus on students and on breaking down the barriers that lead to persistent under-representation of particular student cohorts and communities.
The Liberal party has indicated it has issue with the legislation, meaning its passing would require the support of the Greens and minor parties.
Updated
In pictures: Liberals on the move
All eyes (and lenses) have been focused on the Liberals today.
Here’s a few more pics of some of them walking around the big house.
Updated
Following on from the last post … the health minister’s legislation will outlaw “product phoenixing”, where private health insurers close a product and reopen an identical one at a higher price, or reduce the value of a product.
The bill requires insurers seek the minister’s approval for premiums for new products and if making some changes that reduce the cover or value of existing products.
Butler said:
Specialists and private health funds have been given the opportunity to be upfront about patient costs and out of pocket expenses, but frankly have failed to do so.
I also warned insurers that product phoenixing had to stop and yet insurers continued to do so.
This bill legislates wider scrutiny of premiums so consumers can be more confident in the value of private health insurance.
Updated
Government introduces legislation to publish specialist doctors’ fees
The health minister has introduced legislation to allow the government to publish the fees that individual specialist doctors charge, to help Australians shop around amid skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs.
This was the aim of the Morrison government’s Medical Costs Finder launched in 2019 – but the website failed to help patients as only a laughable minority of doctors chose to voluntarily disclose their fees despite the $24m investment.
By the end of 2022, out of 6,300 eligible specialists registered to practise in the 11 specialties included on the website, just six doctors had chosen to voluntarily display their fee information.
Even in 2025, only about 88 doctors had chosen to voluntarily display their fee information.
The new bill would allow for that billing data already collected by the government to be published on the Medical Costs Finder website.
The health minister, Mark Butler, said:
We know an increasing number of Australians are not taking up referrals from their GP to see a specialist due to concern about cost, but this legislation will give hard working Australians the clarity they deserve about costs and more choice in their healthcare.
Updated
NSW education department sanctions teachers for pro-Palestine lesson plans
Everyone’s favourite dog, Bluey, has been raised in education estimates – but probably not for the reason you’d expect.
The Liberal senator Maria Kovacic just questioned the Department of Education over her concerns that the “beloved cartoon character Bluey has been co-opted into propaganda”.
She raised an article in News Corp which alleged members of Teachers for Palestine in New South Wales had distributed unauthorised pro-Palestine lesson plans which included Bluey wearing a keffiyeh by a banner reading “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Kovacic said these are “small children, and it’s a classroom”.
We’ve seen the events in December last year … which were horrific. The teachers effectively were attempting to indoctrinate … children who were not their own children.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said they had spoken to their NSW counterparts who had confirmed the materials “are not endorsed by the department and must not be used in classes”.
The NSW education department have been very clear that they reject all forms of racism and religious discrimination in their schools.
Updated
‘No room for complacency’ on targets, says Ley
After Albanese, the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, addresses the parliament.
Ley says that the anniversary of the apology to the Stolen Generations shows “how far our nation has come but also the distance we still have to travel together”.
She says the Closing the Gap targets are a “national mission and a moral imperative” and acknowledges the ongoing racism against First Nations Australians.
As we see results, we draw encouragement from every single reminder that difficult does not mean impossible. However, we cannot close our eyes to the reality that there are areas where progress has stalled. It is starkly clear that we have no room for complacency.
As the recent alleged terrorist attack in Perth reminded us, the forces of racism remain a real and present danger. I repeat to you – and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – the message I have been delivering in parliament: We see you. We stand with you.
Updated
Liberals to vote on leadership spill on Friday morning
The Liberal party will resolve the leadership in a vote at 9am on Friday.
Guardian Australia has confirmed the meeting will take place at the direction of the party’s whips, Aaron Violi and Wendy Askew, as well as the embattled leader, Sussan Ley.
So far the only candidate declared to contest the leadership is Angus Taylor.
If a spill motion is supported by a majority of Liberal MPs, he could oust the first female opposition leader tomorrow morning.
Updated
‘Together we will succeed’, Albanese says
Anthony Albanese ends his address to the House of Representatives remembering the day Kevin Rudd made an apology from the government to the Stolen Generations in 2008.
Albanese was the leader of the house at the time.
He says Australia must work to “break down barriers of racism and disadvantage” and become stronger and more united for it.
Tomorrow morning we will gather to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the national apology to the Stolen Generations. Sitting behind Prime Minister Rudd that day, as the leader of the house, I remember looking up to the gallery, seeing the tears and quiet pride on the faces of those who had fought so bravely and so long to hear those words – the survivors who honoured us with their grace by accepting our apology in the spirit it was offered.
The apology was an honest reckoning with our history, a call to action for our future and a profound act of patriotism, true to the best of our values. Our nation is better and more united for it. That is the determination and the optimism we bring to this partnership. And together, we will succeed.
Updated
Albanese says ‘our government is not contemplating failure’
There are five years left of the current Closing the Gap targets, but just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track in 2026, according to the annual report, while four – including a plan to reduce rates of suicide in Indigenous communities – are either stalled or going backwards.
Albanese tells parliament that he is not “contemplating failure” and that real progress is being made. He says six targets are improving.
Our government is not contemplating failure. We are determined to succeed … Closing the Gap is a national test, a generational task, a moral imperative. But it is what we measure in these tangible outcome that is why we listen to communities, why we investing co-design.
There are four areas where progress is stalled or going backwards. We simply need to do better. The most urgent of those is suicide … Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide. As a matter of priority, our government will deliver $13.9m to boost the national support line 13YARN.
Last year, the prime minister committed to reducing the cost of 30 essential items like flour, cereal, pasta and nappies, and tying them to city prices.
Albanese says last year he committed to doing that in 76 stores, and promises this year to expand the guarantee to “all 225 remote stores right around Australia”.
We all know what it means to be able to put healthy food on the table – the difference to the mother expecting a baby, a child’s health and growth, even for their ability to concentrate at school.
Updated
Anthony Albanese delivers Closing the Gap speech in parliament
In the House of Representatives, the prime minister is delivering the annual Closing the Gap speech, welcoming the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and members of the Stolen Generations in the chamber.
He quickly turns to the alleged terror attack in Perth at the Invasion Day rally on 26 January, which he says was motivated by a white supremacist ideology.
To the chamber Anthony Albanese says:
We see you, we stand with you, the danger of that attack was real. And so was the racism and hatred behind it, motivated by a white supremacist ideology. Aboriginal and Strait Islander people have the right to gather and express their views, without fear of violence. More than that, they have the right to a full and equal place in our nation and our future, unburdened by discrimination or disadvantage.
While he speaks, the opposition benches are about half empty.
Updated
‘We are not entitled to anyone’s support,’ Paterson says
Asked whether he will carry a burden for helping topple the Liberal party’s first female leader, Paterson says that argument was “not successful for [former prime minister] Julia Gillard in the Labor party, I don’t believe successful for Sussan Ley”.
Paterson says the verdict on Ley’s leadership is “clear”, with a -39 approval rating, according to Newspoll, the “worst performance of an opposition leader in 23 years”.
Paterson says that Ley has been “sniped”, but despite that, argues that there should be a change in the leadership.
Sometimes prime ministers can recover from bad opinion polls, but it is very difficult for an opposition leader to do so, and I don’t believe she’ll do so.
Yes there has been [sniping], it’s been a great source of frustration and disappointment to me. I don’t think that is a good way for us to conduct ourselves. I’ve tried very diligently and sincerely, despite not voting for Sussan nine months ago, to make her leadership a success. It is with great regret that it hasn’t been.
Asked whether there’s a risk that the Liberals could go further backwards under Taylor’s leadership, Paterson say it is a “risk”.
I think there is a risk that given what has happened there will be continued harsh judgment by the Australian people and we will have to work very hard to earn back their trust and support. We are not entitled to anyone’s support, we’re not entitled to anyone’s vote, the Liberal party is not entitled to continue to exist as a centre-right force in this country for evermore. We have to earn and I’m determined to do that.
Updated
Paterson struggles to articulate how policy will be different under Taylor
Asked by several journalists how, exactly, Liberal policy will change under Angus Taylor, Paterson says he’s “not Angus’ spokesman”.
He says that Taylor is focused on Australians’ standards of living, and defending the “way of life” that is under attack.
A reporter points out that doesn’t sound particularly different to what Ley has also been pushing for.
Paterson says:
This will not be easy, nor will it be very quick in restoring the Liberal Party’s vote. But now third of voters have left us. It very clear the only way we can earn their support back is to [tell] them we have changed. The best way is to change [is to change] leaders.
Paterson also concedes that it’s not “solely” on Sussan Ley for how poorly the party has done in the polls.
Every member of parliament must take responsibility. This is collective responsibility and I believe we need to make a move in a direction under a different leader but whether we succeed after this will not be down to whether we have a new leader or who that is, it will be down to all of us, the work we and the collegiality.
Updated
Liberals losing ‘more than 7,000 votes a day’: Paterson
Liberal senator, and senior conservative, James Paterson, is addressing the media after also tendering his resignation this morning.
Paterson says the party has been haemorrhaging votes since the election, and declares that if a spill goes ahead, he will vote for Angus Taylor.
Over the months according to the most recent opinion polls, 2.1 million of those people have since deserted Coalition. That is more than 200,000 votes a month. It 50,000 votes a week. More than 7000 votes a day. This cannot go on.
Angus is the smartest policy brain in the shadow cabinet, a man of and courage and values. And most importantly, Angus understands this is a change or die moment for the Liberal Party.
Updated
‘Sussan has worker harder than many will ever know’ Duniam
Senior conservative, Jonno Duniam, has released a statement after resigning with James Paterson earlier this morning.
Duniam says he accepts some responsibility for the current situation of the Liberal party, and that “no one person, including a leader, can be held entirely responsible for the electoral position of a party; this is a team effort.”
He says the commentary and debate over the internal party matters “must come to an end”.
Such a stance puts me at odds with being able to remain in the Liberal Leadership team and in the Shadow Cabinet and I have therefore tendered my resignation.
I have also made it clear that, as a member of Sussan’s Leadership team, I also accept responsibility for the current situation in which the Liberal Party finds itself – no one person, including a Leader, can be held entirely responsible for the electoral position of a party; this is a team effort. An enormous team effort is now required to turn this ship around.
Sussan has worked harder than many will ever know and I have stood with her all the way – but this matter must now be resolved and our party needs to get on with the job of winning back the trust of Australians.
Herzog’s Melbourne visit ‘to provide care and support’, Vic premier says
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, also spoke to reporters about Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit to the state today.
Allan says she looks forward to welcoming Herzog to Victoria.
She says people should remember the purpose of the Australia visit – to provide care and comfort to the Jewish community who are grieving after the antisemitic Bondi beach terror attack:
It is an opportunity for all us to stand united with the Jewish community against this evilness of antisemitism.
Allan also spoke about the anti-Herzog graffiti in Melbourne. She describes the graffiti as “contemptible”.
We all want peace. We all want peace to come and causing hurt and grief, and indeed, violence, like we’ve seen as a result in Sydney, that does not bring peace.
That is what we need to remain focused on and that is certainly my focus, to support the Jewish community who are grieving that particularly evil and antisemitic act on Bondi beach, to provide care and support, but also recognise there are many grieving as a result of a conflict.
So many grieving and we want conflict to end. It doesn’t end by inflicting hurt and pain on anyone in the Victorian community.
A pro-Palestine protest opposing Herzog’s visit to Melbourne is expected to begin at 5pm tonight.
Updated
Malcolm Roberts’ device suggests ChatGPT answer his question in health estimates
While all the leadership drama is happening, there is also some work happening in the building … sort of.
As the Department of Health appeared before estimates this morning, questions around investments in the nation’s health were broken up by a lighter moment.
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts asked what percentage of the department’s budget is spent on the committee review process for Medicare review of practitioners.
Just as the department official was replying he would need to take the question on notice, Roberts’ device chimed in: “I can use ChatGPT to answer that” – producing laughter from the room.
Updated
Taylor spill an ‘absolute disgrace’: Hanson-Young
Sarah Hanson-Young has no kind words for Angus Taylor, telling Sky News this morning the leadership contender “failed” as shadow treasurer and as a former energy minister.
The Greens senator from South Australia ripped into Taylor on a panel with the deputy Nationals leader, Kevin Hogan, and said the Liberals shouldn’t be cutting down its first female leader.
I think this is an absolute disgrace of the Liberal party and no wonder their vote’s in the toilet.
He failed as shadow treasurer. He led the economic policy at the last election for the Liberal party and got absolutely smashed. He failed when he was energy and climate change minister, people’s power bills went up.
I mean, you know. Fantastic. Good move. Well done, Angus. If this is the best the Liberal party have, this reaction from the community to mark down the Coalition across the board is going to keep happening.
Hanson-Young adds that she reckons the party is going to get wiped at the upcoming SA state election in March.
Updated
Ley under pressure as resignations mount
It’s been an absolute whirlwind of a morning and things have been moving pretty quickly.
To recap, we’ve now had six resignations from the frontbench, including Angus Taylor, Jonathon Duniam, James Paterson, Claire Chandler, Matt O’Sullivan and Phil Thompson.
Earlier this morning, Jess Collins and Thompson handed a letter to request a special party room meeting and spill motion.
Ley will get to decide when that party room takes place. Here’s the full rundown:
Updated
Allan responds to CFMEU report
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has responded to a report that includes allegations the Victorian Labor government turned a blind eye to union corruption, despite the $15bn cost to taxpayers.
The report has been referred to police. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union’s (CFMEU) administrator, Mark Irving, on Wednesday released the full report to authorities, after suggestions it had initially been redacted to remove allegations that could damage Victoria’s Labor government.
The report claimed the CFMEU’s actions had increased costs, estimating it cost Victorian taxpayers upwards of $15bn.
Speaking to reporters, Allan said the claims about the cost had not been “well tested”:
Let’s be clear that the claim of any amount has not been well tested or properly founded, as said by the administrator.
Allan also said law enforcement agencies needed to do their work independently of government.
She pointed to reports today that a Victoria police taskforce had arrested a Bandido bikie and former CFMEU delegate over allegations he extorted a building company.
Updated
Angus Taylor is in the house
All smiles from Angus Taylor in the house this morning during a division.
And despite them sitting on either side of the leadership divide, it looks like Andrew Wallace and Phil Thompson are still pretty chummy this morning.
Updated
Two senior conservatives add their names to list of resignations
Two of the most senior conservatives, Jonno Duniam and James Paterson have just resigned together from the frontbench.
Duniam was the shadow minister for home affairs and manager of opposition business in the Senate while Paterson was the shadow minister for finance.
It’s a big blow for Sussan Ley.
It brings the total tally of resignations to six including Angus Taylor.
Updated
Jumping back to Sussan Ley’s pitch for “a better future”, we’ve just noticed some other similarities.
If ease the squeeze also sounds a bit familiar to you, it’s also been ripped from a previous Labor campaign, when then-leader Mark Latham released the ALP’s “Ease the Squeeze” taxation policy in 2004.
Now, to be fair, there aren’t really that many policy or political slogans to go around, but we just thought we’d point it out.
Updated
Ley posts her pitch to the public for ‘a better future’
Sussan Ley is still tweeting through the turmoil.
The leader of the opposition (at least at time of writing) has published a post on X, a photo of herself smiling with no less than five separate three-word slogans superimposed on it – “a better future”, “delivering for families”, “fix the budget”, “ease the squeeze”, and “make Australia safe”.
We will take the pressure off families, fix the budget, and keep Australia safe. pic.twitter.com/I9wbjbfSPd
— Sussan Ley (@sussanley) February 11, 2026
Sound remotely familiar?
You might remember that “a better future” – which is the largest text directly under Ley’s face – was also Labor’s 2022 central election campaign slogan.
“We will take the pressure off families, fix the budget, and keep Australia safe,” Ley wrote on X alongside the image.
Updated
‘Our party must chart a different course’, says Liberal senator
Matt O’Sullivan has released a statement after resigning from the frontbench this morning, saying the Coalition lacks “political clarity, leadership and strategic direction”.
O’Sullivan was the shadow assistant minister for fisheries, forestry and infrastructure.
The Western Australian conservative took part in talks between Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie in Melbourne, before Hastie backed out of a leadership tilt.
O’Sullivan said:
This decision has not been taken lightly. However, I have reached the view that the Coalition currently lacks the policy clarity, leadership and strategic direction required to rebuild trust with voters and present a compelling alternative government.
In recent weeks, my conversations with Western Australians have reinforced a clear message: hard-working Australians and their families expect more from us. They want a stronger plan, a clearer direction and a Coalition that is focused on their priorities. If we are to rebuild trust and reconnect with the millions of Australians who feel increasingly disengaged and left behind, our party must chart a different course.
Updated
Ley considering timing of spill
We’re told Sussan Ley is considering the spill motion presented to her by the Liberal party whips, Wendy Askew and Aaron Violi, this morning.
Liberals Phil Thompson and Jess Collins have asked for a spill of the party leadership, in a move to bring on the challenge being mounted by Angus Taylor.
Amid a series of frontbench resignations, Ley’s camp have confirmed she is considering when a meeting should take place.
We’re told the Taylor forces are pushing for a meeting of the party room to take place today, but senators who are in estimates hearings all day are understood to prefer a Friday meeting.
Updated
Here’s a look at some of the media appearances this morning:
Updated
Treasury looks at tobacco excise settings
Treasury is modelling how demand for cigarettes changes with price moves, in a sign that the government is examining whether a cut to the tobacco excise should be part of a strategy to combat the explosion in illegal tobacco.
The illicit tobacco and e‑cigarette commissioner estimates that 50-60% of tobacco consumed in Australia is now from illegal sources, costing the budget billions in lost revenue.
Jim Chalmers has previously shut down any suggestion of a reduction in the tobacco excise, which has pushed cigarette prices to around the highest in the world and driven smokers into the arms of the black market.
At estimates yesterday, Liberal senator Richard Colbeck asked Katy Gallagher, the finance minister, why the government wouldn’t consider changing the high excise rate “as part of an overall mechanism to combat this trade [in illegal tobacco] which feeds organised crime”.
Gallagher did not shut down the suggestion, saying “the government keeps all of these matters under review”.
She stressed that the response to illegal tobacco trade cut across a number of federal departments, including Home Affairs and Health, as well as the states, and that “there’s not a single solution”.
Nevertheless, Diane Brown, a deputy secretary at Treasury, said:
We have done some work around the elasticity of demand for tobacco to see whether that’s changed, so there is modelling of that type that is going on.
Updated
Angus Taylor releases leadership pitch to social media, promising to ‘restore’ the Liberal party
Angus Taylor has officially confirmed he’s running for the leadership, releasing a video to social media this morning with his pitch to the public, featuring inspirational-sounding instrumental background music and all.
He says the country is in “trouble” and the Liberal party “has lost its way”.
He promises to “restore” the party.
I believe we need strong decisive leadership that gives Australians clarity, courage and confidence in providing a vision for Australia.
I’m dedicated to serving you the Australian people and giving you a strong alternative that re-livens the great Australian dream.
I’m committing myself to the cause of restoring our party so it can be the party Australians expect and deserve.
Why I Am Running for Leader of the Liberal Party.#auspol pic.twitter.com/qRvHgoeird
— Angus Taylor MP (@AngusTaylorMP) February 11, 2026
Sussan Ley will get to pick when the special party room meeting happens, most likely today or tomorrow.
As we know, earlier this morning two conservative Taylor allies brought the special meeting and spill motion request to Ley’s office.
Updated
‘Sussan’s got the choice of how her leadership ends’: conservative MP
Garth Hamilton has also been stopped by reporters by the House of Representatives doors this morning, and says it’s “a good day to be a conservative”.
The conservative MP from Queensland is a key ally of Andrew Hastie (who earlier backed out of the leadership challenge).
He offers a very pointed warning to Ley, daring her not to stand up against Taylor in a spill.
Sussan’s got the choice of how her leadership ends, that’s in her hands now and I hope as a party we do this in a way that is in the best interest of Australians. We need a credible opposition. We need a strong opposition. We’re not at the moment, we need to make that change. In the next 24 hours, we’ll see how many of my colleagues are willing to face up to that reality.
Updated
Bragg believes Ley can survive challenge
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg says he expects Sussan Ley will remain the party’s leader, despite the growing challenge from forces close to Angus Taylor.
The NSW Liberal senator said the party had a rich environment to attack the Labor government and needed to get back to work prosecuting policies, including on housing affordability.
I think most Australians will look at it and say, well, ‘this person hasn’t even been given a year in a job’.
He said Ley should be allowed time to release policies on issues including immigration, housing and small business.
Asked about a possible Angus Taylor leadership of the Liberal party, Bragg said he wouldn’t comment on colleague’s motivations.
Updated
Wilson tight-lipped on leadership spill
Liberal MP Tim Wilson was giving little away on his way into parliament today, saying he wanted a party leader with a “clear vision for small business”.
Numerous Liberal and Nationals members were bailed up by media this morning, sharing thoughts on the leadership spill.
Wilson – whose name has been mentioned as a potential Liberal deputy leader – said on the ABC last night that he still supported Ley as leader, but didn’t say who he’d back in any potential spill if it occurred.
I’ll be looking for a leader with a clear track record turning impossible situations into improbable victory. I want to see someone who’s got a very clear vision for small business as the centre and drive of Australia’s economic success.
I want policy and vision that is going to deliver for the Australian people, and that’s going to be the basis.
Updated
Henderson denies spill has overshadowed Herzog visit
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has denied that the leadership spill has overshadowed the visit of Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, or the Closing the Gap statement today, but argued that the leadership needs to be sorted out “urgently”.
Angus Taylor’s expected resignation hung over much of Wednesday, with his walk down the corridor to Sussan Ley’s office coming shortly after she met with Herzog in Parliament House.
Taylor launched the first step in his leadership bid on the day of Herzog’s visit, which came after the Nationals announced their split from the Coalition on the national day of mourning for the Bondi massacre, which was prompted by the Nationals opposing Labor’s emergency legislation in response to the antisemitic massacre.
Asked if the Liberal soap opera was distracting from other important issues, including the annual Closing the Gap statement in parliament today, Henderson said “I don’t accept that” and argued Taylor had waited until after Ley’s meeting with Herzog.
Henderson told reporters at a doorstop this morning:
We appreciate and understand that this is urgent. We cannot continue as we are. We’ve declined very rapidly since the election. We are no longer looking like a viable, formidable opposition.
Henderson, a Taylor supporter, was also asked why the member for Hume was the right person for the job. She said: “Angus is very experienced. He’s very principled. He’s got a wonderful background as a business person.
He’s got a great empathy with regional Australians and he’s very determined. He’s very courageous and he’s very focused on our values.
Updated
Spill motion delivered to Sussan Ley
Liberal conservative Jess Collins has handed a spill motion to the opposition leader, Sussan Ley.
Together with Phillip Thompson, the pair handed Ley the motion and the request for a special party room meeting where the leadership spill would take place.
The move, just in the past few minutes, means Ley will have to consider whether to call a special meeting today or tomorrow.
Updated
More on the shadow ministry resignations
The opposition deputy whip in the Senate, Matt O’Sullivan, has quit his position, joining forces aligned with Angus Taylor as part of the coup against Sussan Ley.
O’Sullivan took part in peace talks between Taylor and fellow conservative Liberal Andrew Hastie in Melbourne last month.
In the past few minutes, he has told Ley he is resigning as shadow assistant minister for fisheries and forestry, as well as shadow assistant minister for infrastructure.
The list of resignations now includes Taylor, O’Sullivan, Phil Thompson and Claire Chandler.
Updated
Ley given enough time, says conservative senator
Jess Collins and Phillip Thompson say Sussan Ley has been given enough time, contradicting the leader’s allies who say she should at least be able to remain in the job until the budget is handed down in May.
Collins and Thompson have spoken to reporters at parliament. Collins says:
We have heard from our colleagues, some of our colleagues think she should be given a budget. I don’t think delivering budget and reply is going to save us in this crisis.
Thompson adds:
I think it’s quite clear that we need to stop talking about ourselves. Get on with the job. Now this morning, before I walked into Sussan’s office, I faced on my two daughters, and it gave me that resolute position next generation to make Australia better for them.
The polling doesn’t lie. We’ve seen that the people are quite upset. Well, the way that we act is by change, and nine months is enough time to be able to turn that around, and that hasn’t happened.
Updated
Liberals call for special party room, as two other conservatives resign
Following Claire Chandler this morning, senator Matt O’Sullivan, the shadow assistant minister for fisheries, forestry and infrastructure and Phillip Thompson, shadow assistant minister for defence and the NDIS are resigning now.
Thompson confirmed he and senator Jess Collins, another ally of Taylor, have written a letter to Ley, requesting an urgent party room meeting for the spill.
Updated
‘It’s not clear to me what the alternative vision is’: Bragg
If Andrew Bragg looked over the leadership drama yesterday, it’s even worse today.
Fronting up to the media again and speaking with Sky News, the shadow housing minister, a moderate, says he’s not actually sure what the “alternative vision” from the Taylor camp is. Bragg says:
It hasn’t been articulated as yet, what the alternative vision might be.
Bragg says again that Ley should be given more time:
I think Sussan has been dealt a pretty difficult hand. She’s a tough person and I think she ought to be given more time in the role, as I think most normal people would expect. Twelve months in a job is at least a reasonable attempt.
Updated
We could be ‘so much better than this’: Chandler releases resignation video
Claire Chandler has released a video to social media explaining her resignation from the front bench.
The now former shadow minister for science and cybersecurity says she’s been contacted by members of the public saying the Liberal party has “let them down”.
She doesn’t directly criticise Sussan Ley personally but says the opposition has been “obsessed” talking about itself and that it could be better.
In recent weeks I’ve been contacted every day by Tasmanians by Australians who feel the Liberal party has let them down. They don’t see an opposition that is tackling the Albanese government head-on and holding them accountable for their failures, they just seen an opposition that is obsessed with talking about itself.
I know that the Liberal party is capable of so much better than this but, in recent days, I’ve come to the view that that’s not going to happen under the current leadership.
Updated
Jane Hume to nominate as deputy leader
The former shadow finance minister Jane Hume will put her hand up for the deputy when a leadership spill is called.
Guardian Australia has confirmed Hume spoke to current deputy leader, Ted O’Brien, on the phone last night.
A Liberal source confirmed the Victorian moderate senator has also been canvassing colleagues overnight.
It’s understood Hume would not run on a ticket with Angus Taylor, and would run regardless of who wins the leadership ballot.
Earlier this morning, conservative senator Sarah Henderson backed Hume for the position.
Hume’s not the only name that’s been thrown up so far; Dan Tehan and Zoe McKenzie have also been mentioned as potential deputy candidates but both are on the front bench so would have to resign to do so.
Updated
One Nation ‘needs to be taken seriously’: Albanese
Anthony Albanese says the rise in One Nation’s popularity is due to “frustration” from the public over the cost of living.
One Nation recorded a 27% primary vote in the latest Newspoll, eclipsing the Coalition on just 18%, and just behind Labor on 33%.
Earlier this week, several Liberals called the polls “middle-finger voting” against the Liberal and National parties.
Albanese, speaking to Adelaide 5AA radio, said the minor rightwing party are all talk and no action.
One Nation have played a divisive role in Australian politics over a long period of time. They identify what they see as issues and don’t come up with solutions. Now, the fact that their vote has risen means that it needs to be taken seriously.
What it signals to me is that there are many people who are frustrated with the existing system, and that’s understandable, given that there are real cost of living pressures there, and that’s why we’re acting on cost of living.
Updated
‘I’m disappointed for him’: Wallace
Andrew Wallace is continuing his support tour for Sussan Ley this morning, telling ABC RN Breakfast he’s “disappointed” for Angus Taylor and for the party after he resigned to the backbench yesterday ahead of a leadership spill.
Wallace says again that Ley “absolutely” hasn’t been given a chance to lead, and that disunity is death for the party.
He says he still believes Ley could have the support from the party room to withstand a challenge.
Angus is a friend of mine. I’m disappointed for him. I’m disappointed for us. Australians want to see their opposition, no matter how much they may vote for us or not vote for us, they want to see a strong opposition because they know that a government is only as good as its opposition.
I’m not going to go into numbers there but I do believe that she has that majority.
Updated
Sarah Henderson backs in Angus Taylor, says Ley is ‘done’
Conservative Victorian senator Sarah Henderson, one of Sussan Ley’s most vocal critics in the party, says the Liberals face a wipeout without a leadership change.
She argues the party needs a “credible set” of policies and says most of the policies taken to the last election, where the Liberals suffered a crushing defeat, should not have been abandoned – including policies she put forward as the then shadow education minister.
Henderson was sent to the backbench after the election but says she expects more of her conservative front bench colleagues and Taylor allies to quit today.
Asked if Ley is “done”, she tells ABC News Breakfast:
I think she is [done].
It is very difficult time for the Liberal party. This is not easy, to change leader, but at a primary vote of 18% would wipe out most members in the House of Representatives and we owe it to the Australian people to be a credible opposition.
We have been going backwards at a rate of knots and had a terrible election loss but since then we have abandoned all of our policies.
Henderson also puts her support behind Jane Hume as a deputy leader, saying she has a “wonderful track record”.
While Hume is a moderate, the Victorian senator is also an ally of Angus Taylor.
Updated
Claire Chandler resigns from front bench
Guardian Australia understands Claire Chandler, the shadow minister for science and cybersecurity, has resigned from her front bench position.
The conservative senator is the first to follow Angus Taylor over to the backbench ahead of a leadership spill.
We expect more Taylor allies to resign as well today.
Updated
McCarthy threatens pulling funding levers on states on Close the Gap outcomes
Malarndirri McCarthy says there are funding levers the government could pull to put more pressure on the states to improve on Closing the Gap outcomes.
McCarthy has mentioned her willingness to do this in recent months, and adds that the states and territories need to consider improving laws to reduce Indigenous incarceration.
We have levers that we can pull and I know that through the Northern Territory Remote Area Investment, the NTRA, that is certainly an agreement between the commonwealth and the Northern Territory where I have pushed for those levers to be looked at.
Host Isabella Higgins asks why so many of the Closing the Gap targets are going backwards when governments have been working on this for 18 years.
McCarthy says that the Closing the Gap agreement was re-signed in 2020, and there’s another five years before time runs out.
So we are halfway through that and we see this expiring in 2031. So we have another five years to really get to the end of this and hopefully close that gap. And that is our aim.
Updated
‘Many moments of frustration,’ McCarthy says on NT incarcerations
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, is speaking to media this morning ahead of the prime minister making the annual Closing the Gap statement.
Speaking to ABC AM radio, she’s asked if she is frustrated by the Northern Territory, a state she represents, winding back royal commission recommendations around youth incarceration of Indigenous children.
McCarthy says there have been “many, many moments of frustration” and that she has been talking to the chief minister about the rate of incarceration and deaths in custody.
There are certainly many, many moments of frustration. There is no doubt about that. Not just with the Northern Territory, there are other jurisdictions that we continually need to work with.
But the NT specifically, I’ve reached out directly to the chief minister, I have raised directly the concerns around the incarceration rates, but also the deaths in custody that we’ve had in the last 12 months, really, in the NT in particular.
Updated
Wong appoints special envoy over methanol poisoning deaths of two Australians in Laos
Penny Wong has appointed a special envoy to pursue the deaths of Australian citizens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones from methanol poisoning in Laos.
It emerged this week that 10 people linked to the hostel where the two teenagers were poisoned were fined $185.
Pablo Kang, the new special envoy, will depart for Laos this week to “explore all avenues to progress the case”. He has previously served as ambassador to Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates and high commissioner to Vanuatu.
Wong says that the government has clear to authorities “of the need for transparency and accountability”.
Wong said:
We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals.
We understand the heartbreaking grief of the families of Holly and Bianca, which has been exacerbated by the delays and lack of transparency over the legal processes in Laos.
Updated
‘Leadership change won’t fix them’: Treasurer
Jim Chalmers has also stopped by the House of Reps doors – and you know that he’s a keen bean to do so because he actually has a separate ministerial entrance that he would normally go through.
Tbh the treasurer sounds a little out of breath but tells journalists that the Liberal party is a “shambles”.
We might hear a little more of this line at question time this afternoon.
I’m focused on the numbers in the budget, not the focus, not the numbers in the party room. Obviously, they’re a shambles from top to bottom, and a leadership change won’t fix them.
‘I like Angus, no problem with Ley’, Hogan says
The doors are back my friends! Let me briefly walk you through the wonderful tradition of journalists staking out the Senate and House of Representatives entrances where we try to stop pollies and ask them questions on their way in.
Of course, some will come through the doors knowing exactly what they want to say to journalists (and are eagerly awaiting a microphone being brandished in their face), while others try to avoid the whole thing entirely and either shuffle their way quickly through, heads down, or find another entrance.
This morning the deputy Nationals leader, Kevin Hogan, has passed judgment on the Liberal leadership race – while simultaneously saying that he won’t.
He starts with:
I don’t think it’s appropriate for me as the Nationals to comment on division in the Liberal party or comment on leadership in the Liberal party.
But then, when asked whether he likes Angus Taylor, seems to make a bit of a judgment call on who he prefers personally between the two.
I know Angus. I respect Angus. He has great intellect and I like Angus. Having said that, I have no personal problem with Sussan Ley either.
Updated
Potential leadership challenge ‘undercooked, ill prepared’: Wallace
Andrew Wallace is out to bat for Sussan Ley again this morning (in what would be a pretty tight interview turnaround after appearing on Sky News late last night).
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, Wallace says that Ley hasn’t been given a proper chance as leader to succeed. Yesterday other allies said it would be right to allow Ley at least give the budget reply in May as leader.
Like Ley told colleagues at Tuesday’s party room meeting, Wallace says that “disunity is death”, and adds that, at a time when the Liberal party is trying to chase female voters, knifing the first female leader is probably not a great look.
I think this, this leadership challenge, if it ends up being that, has been undercooked. I think it’s been unprepared or ill prepared. I think Sussan has the numbers. I think that the majority of the party room believe that Susan hasn’t been given a fair go,
I quite honestly believe that Sussan hasn’t been afforded a reasonable opportunity to succeed, and I want to back her in and make sure that she does, so that we can continue to take the fight up to Labor.
Sussan, of course, is our first female leader. I think it sends a bad message to Australians.
Updated
Good morning
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for the final sitting day of the week – and perhaps Sussan Ley’s last sitting day as the leader of the opposition.
After weeks (if not months) of speculation, Angus Taylor finally pulled the trigger last night by announcing his resignation from the frontbench. Some of his close allies in the conservative faction will likely follow him today.
Senate estimates continues and, while the heat’s been on the opposition more than the government this week, we’ll bring you everything you need to know from there.
And as Martin mentioned earlier, the prime minister will deliver his Closing the Gap speech later this morning.
It’s going to be another busy one, stay with us!
Updated
Andrew Wallace says dumping Ley would be ‘unacceptable’
The shadow attorney general, Andrew Wallace, was sticking with Sussan Ley and argued that deposing the party’s first-ever female leader after only nine months in the job would be a mistake.
“To effectively knife the Liberal party’s first female leader in under a year is, in my view, unacceptable,” he told Sky New’s Sharri program on Wednesday night.
Unsurprisingly, Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price took the opposite view and was straight on to Team Taylor. She told Sky News:
If we do not make this change, we will be wiped out at the next federal election. We are in a dire situation.
Read our news story here:
Updated
Liberals weigh in on leadership spill
Television studios had a revolving door for Liberal party talking heads last night as they had their say about Angus Taylor’s resignation and the expected leadership spill.
The outgoing shadow defence minister stopped short of announcing a challenge to Sussan Ley but it is likely to come today or tomorrow according to observers as he lines up the votes to be sure of winning.
As he brings his attack from the right, he will have to bring on board some of the more centrist MPs who voted against him when he ran against Ley after the 2025 election defeat.
Moderate MP Tim Wilson said last night he continued to back Ley’s leadership but left himself room for manoeuvre.
“I have said consistently that I expect leadership, and I expect leadership to drive a vision for the future of the country. I expect leadership to define who we are as a political movement,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
“I’ve seen her consistently show a steely resolve despite National party separations, terrorist attacks, an unrelenting assault by Anthony Albanese and his bully boys on the frontbench who have tried at every point to knock her about.”
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji to pick up the slack.
Angus Taylor’s resignation from the shadow cabinet last night is expected to leave Sussan Ley facing a leadership spill today or tomorrow. We will have all the news as and when it happens.
Anthony Albanese makes his annual Closing The Gap speech to parliament today in which he will call out the “white supremacy ideology” behind the alleged bombing attempt at the Perth Invasion Day rally. More details coming up and we will cover the speech when the PM stands up later.
Another key event will be Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit to Melbourne today. He is due to meet senior politicians and community leaders and there is expected to be a protest against his visit at Flinders Street later in the afternoon.
