'It's not my time': Tim Wilson pulls out of Liberal leadership race
The competition to succeed the former opposition leader Peter Dutton has been narrowed down to two contenders, soon after the only Liberal politician who reclaimed his position from a teal independent expressed interest in an unexpected bid for leadership.

Tomorrow, Liberal MPs are set to vote in what appears to be a significant contest between the moderately positioned deputy leader Sussan Ley and the more conservative shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

The face-off briefly widened to a three-way race when Tim Wilson, fresh off reclaiming the Melbourne seat of Goldstein from teal Zoe Daniel, said he was considering going for the vacant leader’s job, after Dutton lost his own outer Brisbane seat in Labor’s landslide win.
“Tim Wilson Bows Out of Liberal Party Leadership Contest: ‘I’m Not Ready Yet'”
Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor are standing to be the new leaders of the Liberal Party.(Paul Jeffers/ The Age)

He refrained from endorsing either of the leadership contenders but supported the continuation of the Coalition’s debated nuclear energy agenda, emphasizing efforts to tackle inflation and make housing more affordable.

Nine political editor Charles Croucher had earlier flagged Wilson’s comments as potential manoeuvring to secure a top role in the shadow cabinet.

“Many individuals from various factions of the Liberal Party show interest in seeing him join the frontbench, potentially in an economic capacity, as a shadow treasurer or another significant role,” he mentioned on Today this morning.

“It’s a great honour to lead our great party,” Littleproud said after the vote, arguing the leadership challenge was “healthy for our democracy”.

Nationals Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price last week defected to sit with the Liberals and has since announced she is running as deputy leader under Taylor.