Senator Jane Hume Installed as Liberal Deputy Leader After Party Spill
Senator Jane Hume has made a dramatic return to the Liberal party's senior leadership, being elected as deputy leader on Friday, 13 February 2026, following a leadership spill at Parliament House. Her elevation comes after Sussan Ley was ousted by Angus Taylor, who became leader after just 276 days in the role.
Mitigating the Fallout from Leadership Change
The Liberal party's decision to appoint Hume as deputy leader is seen as a strategic move to soften the impact of removing their first female leader after only nine months. Angus Taylor's primary focus is to halt the decline in voter support and regain trust among key demographics, such as women in metropolitan and regional seats, who were once reliable backers.
Speaking at Parliament House after the ballot, Hume addressed the party's challenges, stating, "The Liberal party is a party of hope and aspiration, but most importantly, it is a party for all Australians, together, with Angus as our leader." She acknowledged that many have lost faith in the party, with opinion polls indicating further losses if an election were held today.
Moderate Influence and Senate Leadership Implications
While Hume supported Taylor in the leadership spill, she did not run on a joint ticket with him. Her return to the shadow ministry underscores the continued influence of the moderate wing within the Liberal party federally. As deputy leader, she serves as second-in-command to Taylor, a prominent economic and social conservative.
Hume's new role could also affect the opposition's Senate leadership, currently held by Michaelia Cash. Although the deputy leader position does not automatically require running for Senate leadership, her elevation may influence decisions among the party's upper house members.
A Decade of Political Ups and Downs
Hume's path to the deputy leadership has been marked by significant highs and lows. In the Morrison government, she served as minister for women's economic security, superannuation, financial services, and the digital economy. After the Liberals' loss in 2022, she took on the finance and public service portfolios under Peter Dutton's leadership.
However, her campaign during the 2025 election faced controversy. Hume was credited with drafting an unpopular policy to end working-from-home entitlements for public servants, which was later abandoned. Additionally, her comments on Channel Seven's Sunrise, suggesting some Chinese Australians handing out Labor how-to-vote cards might be "Chinese spies," drew criticism and may have contributed to electoral swings in seats with significant Chinese Australian populations.
Following Dutton's loss, Hume was dropped from the frontbench by Sussan Ley, a move widely viewed as a demotion due to her campaign performance. Despite this, she occasionally made veiled criticisms of Ley, such as describing Ley's demand to sack the Australian ambassador to the US as "a little bit churlish."
Public Persona and Political Future
Colleagues have praised Hume as a talented public performer with quick wit. In Senate estimates, she highlighted issues like condom availability in Parliament House gym bathrooms, showcasing her engagement with social issues. However, her humor has sometimes led to awkward moments, such as apologizing for a comment about wearing Lycra in the gym.
Outside politics, Hume has three children from a previous marriage and maintains a private long-term relationship. She joined the Liberal party in the early 2000s, rising through administrative roles before entering the Senate in 2016. Re-elected in 2025 for a six-year term, she is expected to remain a key figure in the party barring unforeseen events.
Hume's elevation as deputy leader signals a potential shift in the Liberal party's strategy as it seeks to rebuild and address internal divisions ahead of future elections.
