Veteran New South Wales Liberal MP Sussan Ley has announced she is leaving parliament after being deposed as leader of the opposition by Angus Taylor. In a leadership vote this morning, Ley secured only 17 votes compared to Taylor's 34, a decision that came at a time of dire polling for the Coalition.
Ley stated she will spend the next few weeks speaking with voters in her electorate before handing in her resignation, which will trigger a by-election in the regional seat of Farrer.
In other news, US President Donald Trump has revoked a scientific finding that served as the central basis for American action to fight climate change. The Obama-era finding determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threatened public health and welfare. Trump has previously described climate change as a con job and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement.
Former President Barack Obama criticized the decision, saying without the legal finding, Americans will be less able to fight climate change, all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has left Australia, concluding his controversial four-day visit that led to violent protests in Sydney. Victoria Police praised thousands of mostly peaceful protesters in Melbourne who argued he should not be welcomed given Israel's conduct in Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man has been charged with stalking and behaving offensively after allegedly following the Israeli president in Sydney, who was there to comfort victims of the Bondi attack.
