Australia politics live: Liberals prepare for leadership vote; Albanese to mark 18th anniversary of national apology

Angus Taylor expected to defeat Sussan Ley. Follow today’s news live

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The leadership spill is the culmination of a string of disasters in the recent weeks, writes Josh Butler this morning, which revealed fundamental disunity in Coaltion ranks.

These included the Nationals splitting from the Coalition (again) on the Bondi day of mourning, Ley’s critics were seen meeting in Melbourne on the day of Liberal MP Katie Allen’s funeral, Taylor’s resignation overshadowed the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, and rolling resignations came as the political classes were supposed to be showing solidarity on the day of the annual Closing The Gap statement.

…The oposition as a whole looked more despondent, distracted and dishevelled than usual. Frontbenchers gazed around the room, texted on their phones; we saw one person whose name had been mentioned as a potential deputy leadership candidate (we won’t rumble who) literally twiddling their thumbs. Ley was quiet.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

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