Hastie and Taylor clash over Liberal leadership challenge

By Kye Halford • January 30, 2026

Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor met on Thursday to decide who should run to replace Sussan Ley as Liberal Party leader, but could not reach an agreement.

What we know:

  • The two conservatives met at a private residence in Melbourne before a memorial service for their late former colleague Katie Allen, with Hastie accompanied by opposition home affairs spokesman Jonathon Duniam and WA senator Matt O’Sullivan (AFR).

  • Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson was also at the meeting.

  • Hastie and Taylor reportedly discussed several leadership options, including the pair running as a leader-deputy combination. But both men ultimately remained firm on wanting the leadership (SMH).

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese critcised the timing of the meeting, saying the opposition are “a mess. That’s the truth … today with the funeral of Katie Allen, I find it astonishing there are leadership meetings taking place” (The Age).

  • Supporters of Sussan Ley have gained some confidence about her prospects of surviving the federal parliament's first full sitting week next week, citing the inability of Taylor and Hastie to reach an agreement (ABC).

  • Read more in this week’s edition of The Saturday Paper.
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