Council
18 February, 2026
Tehan unsuccessful in leadership tilt
MEMBER for Wannon Dan Tehan was unsuccessful in his bid to join party leadership after yet another party spill came with the acknowledgement the Liberals may not exist if an election were held today.
Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor was successful in a 34-17 party vote last Friday, February 13 to topple Sussan Ley as party leader, who was axed after just nine months in the role.
Last Thursday Mr Tehan issued a statement declaring his resignation from the Shadow Ministry, along with his intention to run for deputy leader of the party.
“This afternoon I tendered my resignation as Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction and Acting Shadow Minister for Resources and Northen Australia,” he said.
“Tomorrow I will nominate for the position of deputy leader of the Liberal Party.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly.
“If I am successful, there are four priorities I will make my focus.
“We need to immediately unify, hold this dreadful Albanese Labor Government to account, develop a policy manifesto true to our values and make us match fit to win elections.”
While Mr Tehan was among the shortlist of candidates vying for the deputy leader spot, Senator Jane Hume was ultimately successful.
Mr Taylor said being elected as party leader was the “greatest honour” of his life but acknowledged the Liberals faced a challenging road ahead with the party in its weakest position since being founded.
“We must look ahead and put the disagreements of the recent past behind us and, most importantly, hold a bad Labor government to account by putting Australians first,” he said.
“It is clear we are running out of time. I won’t mince words. The Liberal Party is in the worst position that it has been since it was founded in 1944.
“I don’t shy away from this, and I know that many of our supporters are angry.
“They wanted to see change at the last election, and they didn’t see the change that they wanted.
“I’m particularly conscious that we got some big calls wrong, especially on personal income tax, and it won’t happen again.”
Mr Taylor acknowledged if an election was held today, “our party may not exist by the end of it”.
“We’re in this position because we didn’t stay true to our core values, because we stopped listening to Australians, because we were attracted to the politics of convenience rather than focusing on the politics of conviction,” he said.
“This ends today.
“There is much work to be done to win back supporters and everyday Australians, but just as Australians have put faith in us before, I’m confident we can restore their faith in us again.
“It’s on us to regain that trust and earn it, but the choice is simple for the Liberal Party.
“Change or die, and I choose change.”
Mr Taylor did not make specific policy announcements but made multiple references to plans to repeal tax, lower inflation, increase defence spending and lower immigration.
“We will fight every bad tax, every reckless spending initiative, every policy that drives up inflation and keeps interest rates higher for longer,” he said.
“The Liberal Party is under new leadership, and with that new leadership will come change because our country needs change for the better.
“I stand before you today – determined and ready – to serve Australians with courage and with conviction.
“Our team will fight the worst Labor government in Australian history, because Australia is worth fighting for.”
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