A leadership election was held on 13 May 2025 to elect the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, and by virtue, the leader of the Opposition. The election took place after Peter Dutton lost his seat of Dickson at the 2025 federal election. The ballot was won by then-deputy leader Sussan Ley, who became the first female leader of the Liberal Party.
Ley and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor stated in advance that they would contest the leadership. Country Liberal Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price previously announced her intention to contest the deputy leadership as Taylor's deputy after changing her federal affiliation from the National Party, but did not run after Taylor lost the leadership ballot to Ley.
Background 2022 leadership election
The last Liberal Party leadership election was held on 30 May 2022, a week after then-leader and prime minister Scott Morrison led the party to defeat at the 2022 federal election against the Australian Labor Party led by Anthony Albanese after three terms in government, and subsequently resigned as Prime Minister and Liberal leader. Incumbent deputy leader and treasurer Josh Frydenberg lost his seat of Kooyong to teal independent candidate Monique Ryan, making him ineligible to contest the deputy leadership election. The leadership election was won unopposed by Peter Dutton, the outgoing leader of the house, while the deputy leadership election was won by Sussan Ley, the outgoing Minister for the Environment, also unopposed.
2025 federal election
Initial predictions for the 2025 federal election had Dutton poised to lead the Liberal–National Coalition to victory after one term in opposition, with the Coalition having taken the lead over Labor in November 2024. From March 2025, Dutton's lead in the polls began to reverse, largely attributed to the unpopularity of the second Trump administration in the United States; the Coalition's campaign rhetoric somewhat mirrored Trump's campaign in 2024, in particular calling for asylum seekers to be detained offshore, cuts to the public sector workforce, and antagonism towards China.
In the 2025 federal election, Dutton led the Coalition to a second consecutive defeat, with Labor increasing their majority, with the Coalition recording their lowest seat share since 1946, the first election contested by the Liberal Party since their rebranding from the United Australia Party the year prior.
Candidates Leader Declared Candidate Electorate Faction Announced Portfolio(s) Sussan Ley Farrer (NSW) Moderate/Centre-Right 9 May 2025 Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (2022–2025) Minister for the Environment (2019–2022) Minister for Health (2019–2022) Hume (NSW) National Right 8 May 2025 Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction (2018–2022) Shadow Treasurer (2022–28 May 2025)
Declined Andrew Hastie – Canning (WA); Shadow Minister for Defence (2022–2025) Dan Tehan – Wannon (Vic); Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2022–present) Tim Wilson – Goldstein (Vic); Assistant Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction (2021–2022)
Deputy leader Declared Candidate Electorate Faction Portfolio(s) Ted O'BrienFairfax (Qld)UnalignedShadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy (2022–2025) Phillip ThompsonHerbert (Qld)National Right
Withdrew Candidate Electorate Withdrew Faction Portfolio(s) Jacinta Price Senator for the Northern Territory 13 May 2025 National Right Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians (2023–2025)
Speculated Candidate Electorate Faction Portfolio(s) Sarah Henderson Senator for Victoria National Right Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services (2016–2018) Melissa McIntosh Lindsay (NSW) Centre Right Shadow Minister for Communications (2025–2025) Wannon (Vic) Centrist Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2022–2025)
Declined Jane Hume – Senator for Victoria; Shadow Minister for Finance (2022–2025)
Endorsements
On 12 May 2025 (one day before the leadership vote), a document that had circulated within the Liberal Party was published by The Nightly, featuring the reported voting intentions of federal Liberal members. The document showed Ley with the support of 21 members and Taylor with the support of 28 (including Linda Reynolds, who publicly endorsed Ley), while three members were uncommitted. The actual vote saw Ley defeat Taylor 29 votes to 25.
Sussan Ley
Angus Taylor
Tim Wilson
Results Sussan Ley (29)Angus Taylor (25)UnknownHouse of RepresentativesNSWSussan Ley, Alex Hawke, Gisele Kapterian, Julian Leeser, Melissa McIntoshAngus Taylor, Simon KennedyVICMary Aldred, Dan Tehan, Tim Wilson, Zoe McKenzie, Jason WoodAaron VioliQLDAngie Bell, Scott Buchholz, Ted O'Brien,Leon Rebello, Andrew WallaceGarth Hamilton, Henry Pike, Phillip Thompson, Terry YoungCameron CaldwellWAMelissa PriceAndrew Hastie, Ben Small, Rick WilsonSATom VenningTony PasinSenateNSWAndrew Bragg, Hollie Hughes, Maria Kovacic, Dave Sharma—VIC—Sarah Henderson, James PatersonJane HumeQLD——James McGrath,Paul ScarrWALinda Reynolds, Dean SmithSlade Brockman, Michaelia Cash, Matt O'SullivanSAAndrew McLachlan, Anne RustonAlex Antic, Leah BlythDavid Fawcett, Kerrynne LiddleTASRichard ColbeckWendy Askew, Claire Chandler, Jonathon DuniamNT—Jacinta Price Gisele Kapterian was thought to have won the seat of Bradfield (New South Wales) but was declared not elected after a recount. Senators David Fawcett, Hollie Hughes and Linda Reynolds remained members of the Liberal party room until their Senate terms expired on 30 June.
See also 2025 National Party of Australia leadership spill 2025 Australian Greens leadership election
References