7NEWS The Issue Podcast: Angus Taylor opens up on family tragedy, the fuel crisis and Pauline Hanson

New Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has opened up on the death of his mother Anne, who passed away from cancer when he was just 22 years old.

The Liberal Party eader recently sat down with 7NEWS Podcast The Issue at the Camden Show and says the loss of his mum was “a very big deal”, teaching him to “pitch in” and “learn about the value of family”.

Taylor is one of four children and grew up on a property at Nimmitabel in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales.

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His mother’s death coincided with a collapse in wool and beef prices.

“I firmly believe that a strong family is the most important start in life any Australian can get,” Taylor told The Issue.

“It gives you a foundation that sets you up for the rest of your life. I was lucky to have that despite losing my mother.

“It was a very close family, a very tight family, a very loyal family. I could not have done what I’ve done through my life without that.”

Coalition leader Angus Taylor grew up in the Snowy Mountains Credit: SuppliedTaylor’s biggest regret

The Coalition leader who succeeded Sussan Ley during a Liberal party room meeting in February, which he won 34 votes to 17, says his biggest regret from politics is the impact on his family.

Taylor is married to Sydney barrister Louise Clegg and has four adult children, as well as a couple of pet corgis.

“I don’t think the corgis have noticed, but the kids certainly have,” Taylor said.

“They do keep me grounded; there’s no question about that.

“It’s hard on family, whichever side of politics you’re on, I think that’s challenging. So if there’s a regret, it’s the impact it has had on my family.

“At the end of the day, I’m dad and I’m a husband and that’s my first and most important role, but close behind that, of course, is fighting for our country and I do that every day.”

Taking on Pauline and Albo

Taylor arguably has the hardest job in Australian politics right now.

He’s leading a depleted Coalition up against a dominant Labor Government and a resurgent One Nation.

When asked how he will see off his rivals, Taylor nominates economic and cultural concerns.

The 59-year-old says Anthony Albanese “has undermined our economy, he has undermined our way of life, and Australia is going in the wrong direction”.

“I believe in protecting our way of life and celebrating our values and what we believe in. I think that’s a stark contrast to Anthony Albanese,” Taylor said.

“We’ve got to make it easier for people to do things, more energy abundance, more food abundance, more housing, and that way we’ll have a stronger economy where people can get ahead.”

Angus with his wife Louise Taylor and his parents, Anne and Peter Taylor. Credit: Supplied.Drill baby drill

Despite being an economic rationalist, pro-free-trade and pro-free-markets, Taylor says Australia must learn the lessons of the Iran conflict by producing more things and loosening restrictions around drilling for oil.

Labor constantly criticises the Opposition Leader for a decision he made as Energy Minister in 2020, when he put Australia’s fuel reserves in Texas, USA.

“Can I say that I established the mandatory stock holding obligation and I did that because we needed more fuel in this country and Chris Bowen is taking advantage of that,” Taylor tells The Issue.

“I saved the final two refineries in this country and Chris Bowen decided that one of them should export all of their fuel.

“These are initiatives I’ve put in place, and I got as much fuel as I could stocked for Australia at a time when we had no storage in this country and I will continue to fight to make sure we have the fuel security.”

The rise of One Nation and immigration policy

In the latest Issue Podcast episode Taylor criticises One Nation’s Pauline Hanson for her comment to Sky News where she said, “You say oh there are good Muslims out there, well I am sorry how can you say there are good Muslims.”

Taylor says Hanson went a step too far.

“I don’t agree with that comment,” Taylor said.

“I mean, there are many good Muslims here today at the Camden Show, they believe in our core values.

“People who adopt Australia’s core values here are great Australians.”

Australia’s net overseas migration levels edged up to 311,000 in the year to September 30, 2025.

The Coalition has further delayed the release of an immigration policy, despite the surge of One Nation in the polls, which has been attributed to voters’ concerns around arrival numbers into Australia.

“You’ll see more detail on that in the coming months,” Taylor says.

“But the numbers are too high, the standards are too low and we’ve got to protect our values.”

Taylor has said the Coalition will soon release their immigration policy Credit: FacebookCircle of advisers

Taylor tells 7NEWS he is relying on a wide but experienced circle of advisers.

The group includes his Shadow Cabinet team, among them Jane Hume, James Paterson, Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Price.

He’s also speaking to former Prime Ministers John Howard, Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, as well as former Treasurer Peter Costello.

Plus, he’s actively trying to reconnect the Liberal Party with big and small businesses, after former leader Peter Dutton damaged relationships with the top end of town.

Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton provide advice to Taylor. Credit: Supplied

“There’s lots of people from my past working in business, including small businesspeople,” Taylor says.

“I listen to small businesspeople from my own electorate and from across Australia, because they’re the ones who are at the frontline of what’s gone wrong with our country and our economy.

“The country’s going in the wrong direction, and there’s a better way.”

You can catch more of The Issue on Listnr or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel.