Share and Follow
As the final parliamentary sitting week of the month unfolds, speculation is rife that a leadership spill may be on the horizon within the next three days.
The Liberal Party convened for a party room meeting this morning. However, with several senators absent due to estimates sittings, the anticipated spill did not occur.
Malcolm Turnbull, who previously stepped down from the frontbench in 2015 to successfully contest Tony Abbott for the Liberal leadership, has urged Taylor to take similar action this week.
“I believe he should mount a challenge,” Turnbull declared during a press conference held in the Senate courtyard, the very location where he previously issued his challenge to Abbott.
“It’s crucial to step forward and make your stance known,” he added.
“This is a place where you vote in public, so if Angus wants to be leader of the Liberal Party, he should stand up and say so, and say why.”
The Liberal primary vote is just 15 per cent.
Turnbull didn’t say Ley – who has been opposition leader for less than a year – had been denied a fair go, saying it was part and parcel of politics.
He admitted it was difficult to see a viable road back for the party.
“I sympathise with all of my former colleagues, but they are in a terrible state,” he said.
“This is the Liberal Party facing an existential crisis.
“It’s a long road ahead… they should be worried, these polls are terrible.”Â
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.