Sussan Ley's leadership of the Liberal Party is on the brink of collapse, with senior colleagues predicting her tenure will soon come to an end. This prediction comes after a significant rift within the Coalition over hate speech laws, marking the second such split in just eight months. According to multiple sources, Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are the frontrunners to succeed her, with a potential challenge emerging as early as Friday, following the national day of mourning for the Bondi massacre victims. Tim Wilson and Ted O'Brien have also been mentioned internally, though they are considered outsiders. The situation is further complicated by the possibility of a leadership spill, which can be triggered if two MPs petition the party whip. Two sources anticipate that such a petition may be signed within the next 48 hours. Moreover, there are whispers that David Littleproud's leadership of the Nationals could also face an abrupt end, adding another layer of complexity to the Coalition's internal dynamics. Littleproud's decision to quit the shadow ministry in solidarity with the sacked senators has created a 'tenable' situation, according to senior Coalition sources. The latest breakdown has left senior Liberals across factions convinced that Ley's position is now terminal, following poor polling and a previous Coalition split. One Liberal MP expressed this sentiment, stating, 'You can't come back from this - it's done and dusted.' Another MP described Ley's position as 'untenable' after the second Coalition split under her watch, emphasizing that 'it is not salvageable in any way, shape, or form.' The party room is scheduled to meet on February 3rd when parliament resumes, and the question of Ley's leadership will undoubtedly be a central topic of discussion. Some Liberals are wary of allowing the Nationals to dictate the Liberal Party's leadership, while others argue that a leadership change must be swift to prevent further damage. The challenge for any conservative candidate is to convincingly demonstrate their ability to reunite the Coalition, and they will face credibility issues if they remove Sussan Ley from her position.
