Angus Taylor's Backbench Laughter Contrasts With Sussan Ley's Social Media Push
On what could be Sussan Ley's final day as opposition leader, Angus Taylor was all smiles during a 75-minute parliamentary roasting. The aspiring Liberal leader laughed and chatted on the backbench while Ley's office posted through the drama with highly-stylized social media graphics.
A Bizarre Day in Federal Politics
The incongruity of Taylor seemingly enjoying national television attention while being mercilessly mocked summed up another bizarre 24 hours in Canberra. As Labor jokes rained down about his political greatest hits – including the forged Clover Moore documents and his ineffectual tenure as shadow treasurer – Taylor appeared happier and more engaged than he has all term.
Taylor's long-mooted leadership challenge became a prolonged pause on Wednesday afternoon, with moments when it seemed the spill might not happen at all. When he finally resigned from shadow cabinet, Taylor declined to confirm whether he would actually launch a formal challenge. Even his backers who followed him in resigning struggled to articulate exactly why Taylor, specifically, was the right person for the job.
The 'Vibe' Over Substance
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared it "extraordinary" that the aspiring opposition leader hadn't outlined any real alternative course, crowing that Taylor's leadership bid was "just the vibe, not a single new idea." Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy noted that Taylor, as shadow defence minister, had asked only three defence questions during this parliamentary term.
Senior Liberal senator James Paterson came closest to articulating the rationale for change, praising Taylor as "the smartest policy brain in the shadow cabinet" while admitting he couldn't specify Taylor's policy agenda. "The best way that we can demonstrate that we've changed direction is to change leaders," Paterson argued, even as he acknowledged uncertainty about how Taylor would do things differently.
Social Media Strategy and Awkward Videos
While Taylor laughed on the backbench, Ley's office blasted out no less than seven social media graphics plastered with words like "aspiration," "lower taxes" and "stronger economy." One graphic featured Ley's smiling face superimposed with five separate three-word slogans, including "a better future" – which happened to be Labor's central 2022 election campaign slogan.
Taylor's own social media efforts proved awkward. One video posted Wednesday night showed him in a suit and tie standing stiffly before his office bookcase – described unkindly by a Ley ally as akin to a "hostage video." That clip disappeared and was replaced by another showing Taylor with shirt sleeves rolled up, standing in a farm paddock, though it remained unclear when or where this was filmed.
A Party in Disarray
The opposition appeared more despondent, distracted and dishevelled than usual as the Friday morning leadership spill approached. Frontbenchers gazed around the room and texted on their phones, while one potential deputy leadership candidate literally twiddled their thumbs. Ley remained quiet throughout the proceedings.
In parliament, Tanya Plibersek joked during a Dorothy Dixer on paid parental leave: "After 39 weeks of carrying the Liberal party, I'd say this leader of the opposition can also look forward to a little bit of time off from the job."
Historical Context and Timing
The painful, drawn-out push for change comes after several controversial moments: the Nationals splitting from the Coalition on the Bondi day of mourning, Ley critics meeting in Melbourne on the day of Liberal MP Katie Allen's funeral, Taylor's resignation overshadowing the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, and rolling resignations overshadowing the annual Closing The Gap statement.
In light of this context, the threadbare Liberals potentially cutting down their first female leader without letting her complete a year in the job – with a leadership spill scheduled for Friday the 13th – seems sadly unsurprising. Vote-whipping continued overnight, with the 9am Friday meeting expected to anoint Taylor as the new Liberal leader.
