Liberal leadership contender Angus Taylor has delivered one of his most significant public critiques of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's tenure, carefully positioning himself as a stable and experienced alternative to the disarray currently consuming the party. Taylor strategically chose a packed AUKUS event at Parliament House on Wednesday evening to address defence officials, diplomats, and industry leaders, hammering home core messages of strength, delivery, and national security.
A Calculated Omission Speaks Volumes
Despite the Coalition's dismal performance in recent polls, the Nationals' decision to dissolve their alliance with the Liberals, and frenzied speculation that Taylor could mount a leadership challenge, the senior Liberal pointedly avoided any direct mention of Sussan Ley throughout his entire address. He began by noting the impressive turnout, describing it as 'one of the biggest crowds I've seen in this parliament,' before formally acknowledging British defence representatives, fellow MPs, and key AUKUS industry partners.
Taylor praised the contributions of defence experts and volunteers 'in our businesses and in our communities,' arguing that Australia's fundamental security rests on 'every single responsible citizen.' However, he then deftly shifted focus to the very issues now dominating the internal Liberal leadership debate: capability, credibility, and clarity of purpose.
Invoking Experience and Warning of Threats
In a clear appeal to his own credentials, Taylor referenced the party's disastrous 2025 election result and reminded the audience that he was 'one of a diminishing group of people' who sat at the Cabinet table when Australia first committed to the AUKUS submarine program. He described that decision as 'one of the most important' of his entire political career. 'We knew it was driven by both threats and opportunities,' he stated, reinforcing his firsthand involvement in pivotal national security policy.
Issuing a veiled swipe at China and other strategic adversaries, Taylor warned that Australia now faces nations 'who do not believe in the rule of law, who do not believe in the freedoms we take for granted.' He insisted there is simply no substitute for deepening defence ties with the United States and United Kingdom, declaring, 'It is through strength that we will achieve deterrence. And AUKUS is about exactly that.'
A Clear Focus on 'Delivery' Amid Leadership Speculation
In what was interpreted as his strongest hint at a potential leadership challenge, Taylor made a pointed declaration that he was focused on delivering on critical policy objectives—an area where critics argue Sussan Ley has notably failed to establish her authority. 'Delivery matters,' he said pointedly, a phrase laden with implication for the party's internal dynamics.
In one of the evening's few direct attacks on the government—following Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles's notably restrained approach—Taylor called for a significant increase in defence spending. He echoed calls from the United States for allies to lift spending to 3 per cent of GDP. 'It's incredibly important that AUKUS be fully funded,' he asserted. 'We need to lift defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, not just for AUKUS, but for everything else our country requires.'
Closing Remarks Hint at Broader Ambitions
In his closing remarks, Taylor appeared to directly reference his leadership ambitions and the need for a coherent party narrative. He said the Liberals and all who support the AUKUS deal should 'describe the rationale for AUKUS wherever we go.' This call represents a clear attempt to shift the party's focus away from its well-publicised instability and infighting, and back onto external, national issues like security.
'It is not always obvious to Australians that by spending money today, we insure against threats of tomorrow,' Taylor argued. 'It is on every single one of us… This needs to go viral. We need more support.'
Mounting Pressure on Ley's Leadership
Pressure has been intensifying on Sussan Ley in recent weeks as the party struggles to arrest a dramatic freefall in the polls. Recent surveys from Redbridge and Newspoll found that the minor party One Nation has leapfrogged the Coalition into second place in the primary vote behind Labor. Ley's other perceived rival, Andrew Hastie, ruled himself out of any leadership race last week, potentially clearing a path for other contenders.
Despite the clear signals sent by his speech, sources indicate that Angus Taylor will not be mounting a formal leadership challenge this week. However, his performance at the Parliamentary Friends of AUKUS event has undoubtedly framed him as a serious, policy-focused alternative, ready to steer the party back towards themes of strength and delivery as it confronts a period of profound internal challenge.
