A Shake-Up in Australian Politics: A Leader Faces Doubts

In Australia, political waves are stirring as Sussan Ley, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party, faces a potential leadership challenge. This comes just under a year after she took the reins. The spark? Angus Taylor, a senior figure in her shadow cabinet, stepped down. He's not shy about his reasons, saying Ley isn't the right fit to steer the party forward. Taylor didn't hold back. He told reporters in Canberra that what the party needs now is strong leadership, clear direction, and a focus on their values. He believes Ley isn't the one to provide that. Both Ley and Taylor have stayed quiet on the matter, not responding to requests for comment. Taylor's not new to the political scene. He's been a member of the lower house since 2013. He's pushing for quick action to restore confidence in the Liberals. Their support has been slipping since a big election loss to the center-left Labor Party last May.Things aren't looking great for the Liberal-National opposition coalition. Opinion polls show they're losing voters to far-right populist Senator Pauline Hanson and her anti-immigration party, One Nation. A recent Newspoll showed the coalition's primary vote at 18%, while support for One Nation surged to 27%. It also labeled Ley as the most unpopular major party leader in over two decades. Ley's background is quite diverse. She's a former outback pilot who once mustered livestock and raised three kids on a farm before going to university. She made history in May, becoming the first woman to lead the Liberals after the then-leader Peter Dutton lost his seat in the election.