Price backs Angus Taylor for Liberal leader, announces deputy bid

Just days after her controversial defection to the Liberal Party, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has taken an even bolder step.

Just days after her shock defection to the Liberal Party drew fury from the Nationals, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she is running for the senior Coalition partner’s deputy leadership.

Angus Taylor – a top contender for the Liberal leadership – swiftly welcomed the Northern Territory senator to the blue ranks after she said she was switching party rooms, sparking speculation she would run on a ticket with him.

Senator Price confirmed the rumours on Sunday, throwing her support behind Mr Taylor and formally announcing her deputy bid.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she is running for deputy Liberal leader. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

“Today I announce my candidacy for the position of Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, and my endorsement of Angus Taylor’s candidacy for Leader of the Liberal Party,” she said in a statement.

“As I’ve said with respect to my decision to change party rooms, these are not matters which I take lightly, and this decision today brings with it a great deal of responsibility which I fully accept.”

With the Liberal Party bearing the Coalition’s losses in Labor’s landslide federal election win last week, Senator Price said there was “no question that returning to our roots as a party is critical right now”.

“If we want to inspire and empower Australians across our country, we must return to these roots – these basic values – that define who we are as a party,” she said.

“We must once more remember and fight for the forgotten people, those on whose shoulders Australian society has been built and still depends.”

Mr Taylor has taken to social media, praising Senator Price as “someone of great warmth, conviction and authenticity”.

“She has shown tremendous strength and commitment to standing up for what she believes in and will be an asset to the Liberal Party as we begin to rebuild,” he said.

.@JNampijinpa is someone of great warmth, conviction and authenticity. She has shown tremendous strength and commitment to standing up for what she believes in and will be an asset to the Liberal Party as we begin to rebuild. pic.twitter.com/6U5AEbHuVy

— Angus Taylor MP (@AngusTaylorMP) May 10, 2025

The Liberals will vote on their new leader on Tuesday — a contest broadly seen as being between Mr Taylor and deputy leader Sussan Ley.

Both MPs carry baggage, with Mr Taylor weathering internal severe criticism over his performance as shadow treasurer.

Angus Taylor is weathering internal criticism over his performance as shadow treasurer. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has been accused of undermining ousted leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Richard Dobson / Newswire

Meanwhile, Ms Ley faces a likability problem, with some Liberals accusing her of undermining ousted leader Peter Dutton.

But with the party’s senior talent pool significantly thinned after the election, options are limited.

Liberal senator Dave Sharma — a moderate whose vote could make or break the candidate’s bids — earlier predicted it “will be a close vote”.

Liberal senator Dave Sharma predicts Tuesday’s Liberal leadership contest ‘will be a close vote’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I think it’s very important that whatever the outcome is, everyone respects the result and everyone gets behind the new leader and make sure that they have the best prospects of success as possible,” he told Sky News.

“I know that’s not going to be easy, but we don’t have the luxury of being able to tear ourselves apart over the next year or two.

“Our party rooms not big enough, our level of public support is not high enough to indulge ourselves in that way.”

Whoever comes out as top next week would also need to rebuild relations with the National Party.

Senator Price changing party rooms dealt added to the Coalition’s tensions, which were already at boiling point amid revelations the Nationals were not consulted on key policies.

The National vote also held at the election in stark contrast to the Liberals.

National Party MPs have also blamed the senior partner for costing them their deputy leader, Perin Davey.

Senator Davey ran on a joint Liberal ticket, which the Nationals have said dragged down her vote.