\u201cThe May 2025 election result was a decisive defeat. We accept that verdict. We also accept the responsibility to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal executive has decided not to publish the review. What\u2019s important now is that we strengthen our party for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The autopsy\u2019s release was scheduled for prior to Christmas but was delayed after Dutton raised concerns <\/a>about some of the findings against him and his chief-of-staff, including their relationship with the campaign\u2019s head office.<\/p>\n The review was commissioned under Sussan Ley<\/a> and some Liberals believed Taylor would want it suppressed after winning the leadership.<\/p>\n Liberal sources familiar with the review confirmed the findings reflected poorly on Taylor and his deputy Jane Hume, who as a shadow treasurer and shadow finance minister were responsible for the Coalition\u2019s thin economic agenda.<\/p>\n Taylor was involved in the decision to oppose Labor\u2019s tax cuts while Hume\u2019s was the flag-bearer for the disastrous work-from-home policy, which Dutton dumped during the election campaign. Hume\u2019s comment about \u201cChinese spies\u201d<\/a> was blamed for swinging votes against the Liberals in seats with significant Chinese Australian populations.<\/p>\n Taylor and Hume are both members of the Liberal federal executive.<\/p>\n The decision not to release the review has sparked immediate criticism from some Liberal MPs, who fear it will mean the party fails to learn from the historic defeat.<\/p>\n \u201cThe new leader and the new deputy never wanted this to see the light of day,\u201d one MP said.<\/p>\n Three sources familiar with Friday\u2019s meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the decision to shelve the review was about the desire for a \u201cfresh start\u201d not to protect Dutton, Taylor or Hume.<\/p>\n Some members of the executive wanted to avoid airing the party\u2019s dirty laundry just weeks out from the South Australian election and federal byelection in Ley\u2019s old seat of Farrer, the sources said.<\/p>\n![\"'We](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6268.jpg\")
‘We got smashed’: Sussan Ley reflects on Coalition’s historic election defeat \u2013 video<\/p>\n