The federal opposition leader and her allies are proclaiming she is safe, while conservative pin-up Andrew Hastie signals his intent for the Liberals' top job.
Speculation about Sussan Ley’s future has been supercharged after the coalition split over the government’s hate crime laws.
Legislation banning hate groups and increasing penalties for hate speech after the Bondi terror attack triggered the break-up, after MPs from the Nationals split with the Liberals to vote against the laws.
Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor and conservative backbencher Andrew Hastie are both angling to replace Ms Ley.
In a newsletter circulated to supporters on Australia Day, Mr Hastie appeared to signal his leadership intent while outlining his long-held concerns about immigration levels.
“After the Bondi attack, these concerns can no longer be dismissed,” he said.
“Politics as usual just isn’t going to cut it. What we’re doing now just isn’t working.
“Australians are asking for something new.”
His pointed message came after Mr Taylor refused to rule out a challenge to Ms Ley’s leadership as momentum for a spill builds.
"The Liberal Party has got a lot of work to do," he told The Australian newspaper on Monday.
Further pressed on the issue, the opposition defence spokesman said he was limited in what he could say because he was a member of the shadow cabinet.
"What's required is us showing to Australians that we are united and that we have a clear sense of purpose that is about addressing their challenges," Mr Taylor said.
Party sources have told AAP the Liberals do not want to detract from former MP Katie Allen’s funeral on Thursday and any spill is likely to come when parliament returns in the following week.
Speaking on Australia Day, Ms Ley said she was “absolutely not” of the belief her leadership was over.
Four senior Liberals declared their backing for her on Tuesday, with opposition immigration spokesman and moderate Paul Scarr saying he threw his “100 per cent support” behind the leader.
"Sussan has demonstrated, since becoming leader, how she's been able to navigate some very, very difficult issues," Senator Scarr said.
Industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said he wouldn’t throw his hat into the ring for the leadership, while voicing support for Ms Ley.
He said the Liberals were better off without the Nationals, comparing David Littleproud's decision to break up the coalition to the rural party's former leader Barnaby Joyce lying on a Canberra footpath after a drunken night out in 2024.
“(Littleproud has) basically replicated the political consequences of Barnaby Joyce on the Braddon pavement," he told Sky News.
"They’ve hit it flat. It hasn’t worked. What we need is leadership."
Senator Scarr and Mr Wilson said they had not been contacted by Mr Taylor or Mr Hastie to run the numbers for a potential leadership tilt.
"At the moment there is no announced challenge. There is no announced intention to seek a spill,” Senator Scarr said.
As support for Mr Hastie grows, his backers hope Mr Taylor pulls out of the race, Liberal sources told AAP.
Ms Ley on Monday said her door remained open to reunifying with the Nationals.
