‘Not pretty’: Leaderless Liberals mourn massive election defeat
Peter Dutton has lost his seat in Parliament, becoming the first Opposition Leader to be voted out in a federal election as the Liberals digest the massive defeat.
The Coalition suffered a negative 3.2 per cent swing on Saturday night, with senior MPs, such as Michael Sukkar and David Coleman, also set to lose their seats.
Early contenders for the Liberal leadership are emerging after Dutton’s shock defeat left a vacuum at the head of the party.
The two front-runners are shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, who both defied the trend to increase their margins by the time counting ceased.
As it became clear the party was heading for a humbling defeat on Saturday night, the mood in Liberal HQ turned from shock and disbelief to devastation.
A large share of the 200-odd attendees in the room watched in stunned silence as results rolled in on the big screens.
“It’s not pretty,” one Liberal staffer said.
Arriving to a warm welcome at the W Hotel in Brisbane, Dutton was magnanimous in conceding defeat and accepted full responsibility.
“Our Liberal family is hurting across the country tonight,” he said.
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“I’ve always wanted in public life for the best for our country and the best for every Australian,” he said.
“It’s a historic occasion for the Labor Party, and we recognise that.”
Dutton said he congratulated Albanese and wished him, his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan all the very best.
“And I said to the Prime Minister that his mother would be incredibly proud of his achievement tonight and he should be proud of what he has achieved,” he said.
“I also had the pleasure of speaking with Ali France. Ali and I have been combatants for a number of elections, but she was successful in Dickson tonight, and she will do a good job as a local member.
A leg amputee who lost her son to leukaemia in 2024, Labor candidate France was successful in her third attempt to unseat Dutton.
“Her son Henry would be incredibly proud of her tonight, and she’ll do a good job as a local member for Dixon,” Dutton said.
The atmosphere at Liberal HQ was subdued. Photo: AAP
Liberal supporter Sharyn Merrin said Dutton’s loss was devastating.
She said she had been drawn to the party because of his efforts to stamp out domestic violence.
“I don’t know who they’ve got to replace Peter. I just can’t get over him not going to be there,” Merrin said.
“It’s a historic day, but unfortunately for the wrong reasons,” she added.
With half the vote counted, the Coalition had suffered a 2.4 per cent two-party preferred swing and Labor was projected to be returned to government in an expanded majority.
It was a mistake for Dutton to say he would be happy to host a nuclear reactor in his electorate, Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.
France was a strong candidate, the coalition lost the battle on health and cost of living policy” and Peter Dutton trailed away as the campaign rolled on”, Chalmers said on ABC TV.
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The Coalition was behind in more than a dozen seats it held and was not on track to win any seats from the government.
A lone bright spot for the Liberals was opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan, who looked to have seen off a challenge from independent Alex Dyson in his regional Victorian seat of Wannon, with a swing towards him of 0.3 per cent.
The Liberals were set for a wipeout in Tasmania with the loss of Bass and Braddon, and faced defeat in their last seat in metropolitan Adelaide, with Sturt MP James Stevens suffering an 8.1 per cent swing against him.
Leadership options for decimated Liberals
Angus Taylor is the most senior remaining Liberal and has long been considered a potential future leader.
But he is seen by his opponents as a weak communicator and an easy target in parliament.
His political sparring partner, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, laid much of the blame for the Coalition’s diabolical performance at Taylor’s feet.
“I don’t intend to dance on Peter Dutton’s grave, but I think the big missing part of the story we’re talking about tonight is Angus Taylor,” Chalmers said.
“So many of the issues that the Liberal campaign had can be traced back to Angus.
“Peter Dutton did not have a good campaign, but the main alternative, Angus Taylor, arguably had a campaign which was at least as bad, if not worse.”
Andrew Hastie is charismatic and has a compelling background.
But the Western Australian had an awkward campaign, facing questions over historical comments he made saying women shouldn’t be allowed in frontline combat roles, contradicting party policy.
Liberal Senator for WA Michaelia Cash saw him as “leadership material”.
“When you look at his background – former SAS – he is someone who comes with a great pedigree,” she told Channel Seven.
“He is someone that works, he does not take one vote for granted in that seat.”
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Dan Tehan, who is set to head off a challenge from independent Alex Dyson, are among the other senior MPs who kept their seats.
