Abbott was Australia’s best opposition leader. But his return to the spotlight could overshadow the new guy

June 1, 2026 — 9:59am

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Has Angus Taylor just made a fatal mistake?

Last Friday, at a bit after 3pm, former Liberal leader and prime minister Tony Abbott was elected unopposed as the party’s federal president.

The role is typically a behind-the-scenes position that requires someone who can gently persuade, occasionally twist an arm and generally get things done with a minimum of fuss.

In other words, the complete opposite approach to Abbott’s hard-charging, take-no-prisoners style, which was, and is, characterised by a crusading fervour and an unshakeable conviction in the righteousness of his causes.

Taylor has long been a supporter of Abbott, who has for years been one of his political mentors, and backed the former prime minister over former foreign minister Alexander Downer to take the party presidency.

‘Don’t underestimate me’: Hanson dismisses questions she’s too old to lead

Downer, himself now a party vice president, declared that his colleagues in the parliament would need to become “media tarts” over the next couple of years to get in........

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