With the current Newspoll showing the Coalition currently favoured by less than 1 in 5 voters Liberal leader Sussan Leys finds herself walking a political tightrope. While Leys has healed the split with the Coalition partners, the Nationals who had a 17 day divorce after three ministers that voted against the hate speech legislation were removed from their posts, Leys remains in a precarious position
Having witnessed many leadership contests first hand over the last few decades, press gallery veteran Mark Kenny talked to Stephen Hill about the prospects of Sussan Ley facing a leadership challenge this week.
UPDATE: At 7:15pm Angus Taylor announced his resignation as the Shadow Minister of Defense, enabling him to contest the leadership of the Federal Liberal Party.
Image: Angus Taylor at press conference in gardens of parliament house – courtesy AngusTaylor.com.au
Produced By: Stephen Hill
Featured In Story: Mark Kenny, former national affairs editor for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, Professor at the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University.
First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 11 February 2026