Tim Wilson decides against contending for Liberal leadership

The Liberals will soon decide who will take over from Peter Dutton who led the party to its worst election defeat, but one name will be missing from the contest.

Tim Wilson has decided against throwing his hat into the ring for the Liberal leadership, saying it’s ‘not my time’.

Mr Wilson, who has reclaimed the Melbourne seat of Goldstein from teal MP Zoe Daniel who defeated him in 2022, emerged as a possible third candidate to replace Peter Dutton who led the Liberals to the party’s worst ever election loss.

But late on Monday, Mr Wilson decided against standing.

“I won’t be a candidate for leader tomorrow – it’s not my time,” Mr Wilson said in post on his Facebook page.

Tim Wilson may run for the Liberal leadership. Picture: NewsWire/ Nadir Kinani

“But I will be giving all my energies to whoever wins, to replicate what we did in Goldstein across our party.

“The path back requires us to build a strong economic plan which has aspiration at its centre.

“There is much to do.

“Now is the time to listen, support each other, rebuild and ultimately campaign on the economic issues that matter.

“That is our shared pathway to victory, and success for Australians.”

Current deputy leader Sussan Ley and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor will battle it out for leadership at a seriously reduced partyroom meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.

Deputy Leader Sussan Ley is standing for the leadership to replace Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor will be the only other candidate at the Liberal partyroom meeting on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Mr Wilson, a 45-year-old marriage equality advocate and economic conservative, had told Sky News last week that running for leader was an option

“I’m immensely privileged to have been in the position that I’ve got to. I’ve seen my name being bandied around, but I’m literally just focused on the task at hand,” he said.

“But I want to make this clear, I didn’t go back into parliament just to sit around. I got elected because I believe this country has a bold, ambitious, Liberal future.

“I’ve got an open mind about these things, but the reality is I am very much focused on how I can play part of a role as a team because what I want is a bold, confident Liberal Party that projects an alternative Liberal vision for this country that builds out the policy stepping stones to get there.

The MP said he remained ‘focused’ on projecting an ‘alternative Liberal vision’ for Australia. Picture: NewsWire/ Nadir Kinani

“And that’s what I’m looking for from all of the leadership candidates who are putting themselves forward.”

Liberal senator Dave Sharma said he was aware of the reports, with Mr Wilson’s involvement ultimately coming down to the decision of the party room.

“Clearly, we all wear some culpability for the loss, the people at the top of the leadership but also people like me,” he told Sunrise on Monday morning.

“I’m looking for whoever can help bring the party together, analyse our problems and be on fest about some of those and offer a way forward.

“I’m not sure who that will be just yet.”

Outgoing Liberal senator Hollie Hughes – a factional foe of Mr Taylor – reiterated that she thought Ms Ley should be the party’s next leader.

“I think her life experiences, combined with the fact she has three finance degrees, proved she has not only the experience but the intellect to be able to drive policy and make sure that when we do get to the next election, we’ve actually got something to say,” Senator Hughes told Q+A on Monday night.

Originally published as Tim Wilson decides against contending for Liberal leadership