Tony Abbott Urges Conservatives to Unite to Defeat Sussan Ley

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has stepped into the Liberal Party's leadership turmoil, urging conservatives to unite behind a single challenger to remove opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Mr Abbott has encouraged the party's right faction to rally around either Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie, arguing that continued division will only prolong the party's struggles. Both men are understood to be keen on the leadership, with Liberal sources saying they have been in direct talks to resolve the impasse - though neither has yet agreed to step aside.

Despite days of intense speculation sparked by the Nationals' decision to quit Ms Ley's shadow cabinet and the Coalition, some insiders say the momentum for an imminent leadership spill has eased. One source described the push as having "stalled" after an initial rush, while another said any change was unlikely to occur quickly.

Three Liberal sources confirmed Mr Abbott has privately pressed Mr Taylor and Mr Hastie to strike a deal, warning that failure to do so risks weakening the conservative cause. His intervention has been interpreted by some as part of a broader ideological battle over the future direction of a party many believe is at its lowest ebb.

"He's hyper-interventionist - always has been," one Liberal said, noting that no other former party leaders have publicly weighed into the dispute.

Attention is now turning to opinion polls due next week, with Parliament set to resume. One senior source cautioned that Ms Ley's position could become untenable if the numbers worsen, adding: "We can all see where this is going."

However, others within the party remain hesitant about triggering another leadership spill, wary of the political chaos that could follow. Moderate MPs continue to back Ms Ley, warning it would be "unseemly and stupid" to depose the party's first female leader over a Coalition breakdown they argue was not of her making.