Liberal senator Hollie Hughes blasts shadow treasurer Angus Taylor

One of the four people tipped to succeed Peter Dutton as Liberal leader has been slammed by a colleague as incapable.

Four names have emerged as possible contenders to replace Peter Dutton and lead the Coalition after Labor decimated the opposition at the federal election.

Labor’s landslide win culled the Coalition’s 55-seat hold in the House of Representatives, reducing its numbers to 39, as of Monday morning.

With the Nationals retaining all of their lower house seats, the Liberals bore the brunt of the red wave.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, immigration spokesman Dan Tehan and defence spokesman Andrew Hastie have been floated as potential successors.

But with the Coalition still licking its wounds, Liberal MPs have warned that it is “too early to call” who would lead them.

Sussan Ley has paid tribute to Peter Dutton but has not indicated if she will put her hand up to succeed him following Saturday’s election loss. Picture: Adam Head / NewsWire

Mr Taylor, though, may have a harder time, with one colleague blasting his performance as the opposition’s numbers man.

“I have concerns about his capability,” Liberal senator Hollie Hughes told the ABC on Monday.

“I feel that we have zero economic policy to sell. I don’t know what he’s been doing for three years.

“There was no tax policy, there was no economic narrative, and the fact that we’re in a massive cost-of-living crisis and Jim Chalmers is basically through unscathed.”

Senator Hughes lost the Liberal preselection to represent NSW in the senate last year to Taylor-backed candidate Jessica Collins.

She said her views on Mr Taylor were “shared by a huge number of my colleagues”.

“And frustration that they didn’t have economic narratives that they could push and sell during the election,” Senator Hughes said.

“And you know, going from shadow treasurer to opposition leader – I’m not quite sure that’s going to change.”

Another Coalition MP shared similar concerns, suggesting that promoting Mr Taylor to the top job would only highlight the opposition’s election shortcomings.

“I think we completely failed on economic policy, so I don’t see how re-running that film is going to help us,” they said.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has been blasted by a colleague for his performance. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has not said whether she would put herself forward to replace her ousted boss. Picture: Richard Dobson / NewsWire

Questions have been raised about why Ms Ley, who is technically the acting Liberal leader, did not front media following the election bloodbath.

Ms Ley late on Sunday praised Mr Dutton for “his 25 years of deeply valued service to our country” but did not say whether she would put her name up to replace her ousted boss.

“Last night was a very difficult night for the Liberal Party and today we reflect on these results with humility,” she said.

“I want to thank the many millions of Australians who voted for the Liberal Party (and National Party) and the thousands of volunteers who supported our campaign.”

Before she issued her statement, only Mr Tehan was asked about the prospect of ascending to the Liberal leadership.

But quizzed by the ABC on election night, he said he needed “time to consider, time to think and get an understanding of what has occurred”.

Another Coalition MP raised concerns with promoting Mr Tehan to the top job after he struggled to retain the previously safe Liberal seat of Wannon following repeated challenges from Climate 200-backed independent Alex Dyson.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has faced questions over his lack of cabinet experience. Picture: Richard Dobson/ NewsWire

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan barely held onto the traditionally Liberal safe seat of Wannon. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Any person who struggles in a safe seat shouldn’t be leader,” they said.

“What are you gonna do next campaign? You’re gonna be campaigning in your seat or are you going to be campaigning across the nation?”

Mr Hastie, a former commando who entered parliament after winning the West Australian seat of Canning in 2016, could also miss out on the leadership this time round due to his lack of cabinet experience.

However, he did serve as the assistant minister for defence under the Morrison government from 2020 to 2022.

“Everyone is in shock today and we’ve still got a lot of counting to do, so I wouldn’t be rushing to a party room,” said a third senior Coalition member.

“There’s enough blame to go around and we’ve all got to be really honest and humble in the message that we’ve been sent.”

Ms Ley’s statement on Sunday said the party would come together to vote for a new leader and deputy leader.

Ms Ley says the leader and deputy leader roles are open for election following Mr Dutton’s defeat. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“As per our party rules following an election defeat, the Liberal Party room will meet in order to elect a leader of the opposition and deputy leader of the opposition,” Ms Ley’s statement said.

“These positions will be declared vacant at this meeting.

“Today I have consulted with our party’s senior leadership and it is clear that there are several seats where preferential counting must continue before this meeting can take place.

“As that count does continue, the Member for Durack, the Honourable Melissa Price MP, is the acting chief opposition whip and will communicate further about these arrangements in due course.”

Ms Ley said the party’s “thoughts are also with many Liberal colleagues who have lost their seats”.

“I look forward to their significant individual contributions being appropriately recognised in the near future,” she said.

Originally published as Liberal senator Hollie Hughes blasts shadow treasurer Angus Taylor