Angus Taylor has emerged victorious from today's Liberal Party spill to become the new opposition leader, revealing immigration reform and lowering taxes will be key policy pillars in his first speech as leader.

Taylor successfully challenged Sussan Ley, the first woman ever elected to lead the federal Liberals, after just nine months in the job following the party's thumping 2025 federal election defeat.

The Hume MP snatched the top job from Ley, winning the vote with a better-than-expected 34-17 margin during a party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra.

LIVE UPDATES: Angus Taylor successfully challenges Sussan Ley for Liberal leadership

READ MORE: Central Islamic body calls for public apology for Town Hall protest

Taylor began his speech by thanking Ley for taking on the "incredibly difficult task" of leading the Liberals following the 2025 election loss.

"Her work ethic has been absolutely relentless," he said.

"She is a great person, a great Liberal."

The newly-elected opposition leader acknowledged the Liberal Party's staggering loss in voter support, saying that if an election was held today, "we may not exist by the end of it".

He then blamed Australia's rising house prices and economic instability on Labor's immigration policy.

"We'll stand for an immigration policy that puts the interests of Australians first, and puts Australian values at the centre of that policy," Taylor said.

"If someone doesn't subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut."

He then vowed to scrap Labor's electric vehicle (EV) taxes, lower personal taxes altogether and to deliver more funding to the military.

"'This party must always be the party of fight Labor's bad taxes – taxes on homes, taxes on our children's future," he said.

"Under my leadership, the Liberals will nurture national confidence and love for our country.

"We'll focus on the things that unite us – family, community, and nation.

"And that revitalisation starts today."

Victorian senator Jane Hume has been elected deputy leader.

The outspoken Ley critic was one of four candidates alongside incumbent Ted O'Brien and fellow challengers Dan Tehan and Melissa Price.

Speaking alongside Taylor, Hume said she would make it her mission to ensure the country has a "bright future".

"The Liberal Party is a party of hope, and it is a party of aspiration. But most importantly, it is a party for all Australians," she said.

Hume had praised Ley's personal qualities to reporters outside Parliament House earlier this morning, despite calling for a change of direction for the party in recent days.

"Sussan Ley has been a diligent, hard-working servant to our party and to the country, but unfortunately, we're simply not cutting through now. Australians are rightly aggrieved," Hume said.

'No hard feelings': Ley quits parliament after being ousted

Ley was the first to speak after being toppled by Taylor during today's vote, where she announced her intention to retire from politics.

Her resignation will trigger a by-election in her electorate of Farrer in south-western NSW.

"I am not sure what comes next for me. I look forward to stepping away completely and comprehensively from public life," Ley said.

Ley was quick to assure voters there was "no hard feelings".

"Today I want to express gratitude for the Liberal party that I have known and loved for half of my adult life," she added.

"I wish Angus Taylor well. I know that he has experience, energy and drive."

Taylor set the wheels in motion for the spill earlier this week after resigning from the frontbench before claiming he believed Ley was unable to lead the party.

READ MORE: Old social media blunder is coming back to haunt Angus Taylor

Today's spill had been described as a "change-or-die" moment for the Liberals by senior conservative senator James Paterson.

Taylor yesterday put his case to the people of Australia head of his triumphant spill motion.

"The Labor government has failed and the Liberal Party has lost its way," he said in a video posted to social media.

"I'm running to be the leader of the Liberal Party because I believe that Australia is worth fighting for.

"I believe we need strong and decisive leadership that gives Australians clarity, courage, and confidence in providing a vision for the future."

Ley's short tenure as leader had been marred by two splits with junior Coalition partner the Nationals.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

A 16-year-old pedestrian is fighting for life after he was hit by a car in Melbourne's south-east.

Emergency services were called to Pound Road in Narre Warren South about 4.30pm following reports a car had struck a pedestrian.

The boy is being rushed ot hospital with life-threatening injuries.

READ MORE: Central Islamic body calls for public apology for Town Hall protest

A specialist air ambulance crew and a mobile intensive care ambulance with advanced life support paramedics are on the scene.

The female driver of the car crashed into a tree and is being assessed by paramedics.

The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Flooding and slips are closing state highways.

A kitchenhand has been charged with attempted murder, after he allegedly tried to kill a waitress at a Brisbane leagues club, hours after he was sacked.

Police say 33-year-old Cameron Clark was fired from the Easts Leagues Club in Coorparoo about 2pm yesterday for inappropriate behaviour towards a 20-year-old colleague.

They allege he came back to the club just after 5pm with a carving knife, targeting and attacking the woman in a hallway.

READ MORE: Who is Angus Taylor? The man who wrestled Liberal leadership from Sussan Ley

She was stabbed in the head, hands and wrist.

One of the chefs stood in to protect her and was stabbed in the hip as the woman attempted to get away.

Clark allegedly then followed the woman into the dining area and attacked her again in front of dozens of patrons.

A group of bystanders jumped in to restrain him before police arrived.

"For everyone in the club yesterday afternoon, this is a life-altering event," Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said.

"Those people that were physically injured, those people that witnessed the event, they will forever remember what occurred yesterday."

The woman, from Norman Park, has undergone surgery today and is in a stable condition.

The alleged attacker remains in hospital under police guard.

He has been charged with one count each of attempted murder, unlawful stalking, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding and going armed to cause fear.

He is due to appear in court on Monday.

The 61-year-old chef was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The club reopened today and said it is working to support staff.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Disability advocates are calling to have rideshare services included in state-based taxi subsidy schemes with 98 per cent of participants in a national trial saying they'd back the reform.

Currently, Victoria is the only state to include rideshare in its transport subsidy scheme for people with eligible disabilities.

In a recent 12-week trial of a provider-neutral scheme conducted by Uber and disability inclusion consultancy Get Skilled Access, participants were given Uber credits equivalent to their state subsidy to use however they wished.

READ MORE: 'Ticking time bomb' sitting under new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's desk

The results, released on Thursday, showed 95 per cent of participants felt Uber met their transport needs, 97 per cent felt it met their access needs, 96 per cent felt safe and 92 per cent felt independent and empowered in their daily lives.

Almost all (98 per cent) backed rideshare being included alongside taxis in subsidy schemes.

Cheryle Lapthorne, a small business owner, parent and carer, lives in regional Tasmania with her daughter Matilda, who uses a wheelchair and is neurodiverse.

Lapthorne has multiple sclerosis and mobility challenges of her own.

She told 9news.com.au the availability of taxis in their area does not meet demand.

The family also regularly uses public transport, particularly when travelling interstate for specialist healthcare.

"When you're a young person with a wheelchair that can be really difficult to manage and the cognitive load on the caregiver, to try and sort that out, particularly when you've got children that are disabled, you never quite know what card to buy, where to top it up, what tram system to get on, does it work, how far do I have to walk," she said.

"(The trial) was just a reminder that travel can be accessible and functional.

"It has just really given us back the choice and control about how we travel.

"People don't understand the functional impact that being denied transport has on someone who may no longer have any spoons left for the day or may not have another accessible way to get home."

She said access to rideshare would be pivotal in allowing Matilda, who is almost 13, to have independence.

Uber's teen accounts allow teenagers to use the platform with consent and supervision from their legal guardian.

"She's able to pick where she wants to go and she's able to have a visual example of what that might look like on the screen, which is really accessible for her and calms the anxiety around 'where am I going?' and 'what am I doing?' for a neurodiverse person.

"As she grows, it will allow her to access the community in a meaningful way for her."

Matilda's wheelchair folds down and can fit in a small car, which means she doesn't necessarily need the same size vehicle as other wheelchair users either.

Lapthorne said having flexibility in what vehicle she uses means those services are available for others who need them.

"Not every disability is the same, so being able to have that choice and control about the need that meets you in that moment would probably be life-changing for a lot of people.

"Everybody should have the right to travel in the way that best suits them and allows them to join in the community."

The trial was backed by Vision Australia, Disability Voices Tasmania, Carers Australia, Children and Young People with Disability Australia.

Research by Vision Australia shows almost 60 per cent of people with disability would be more likely to use subsidy schemes if rideshare was included.

"For people with disability, travel is often complex, stressful and requires a level of planning that most people never think about," Vision Australia's general manager of corporate affairs and advocacy Chris Edwards said.

"When choice is limited, that burden increases.

"That's why we are calling for the urgent expansion of state subsidy schemes — a modest reform that would deliver life-changing impacts for our community."

Uber's general manager for Australia and New Zealand said state-funded taxi subsidy schemes had not kept pace with Australians' travel habits.

"This trial shows what happens when people with disability get genuine choice.

"Victoria's provider-neutral model is a strong blueprint, and this trial adds to the case for other states to back funding that follows the person, not the transport mode".

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Fire crews were called about 5pm after alarms and a 111 call.

Australian borrowers are bracing for mortgage pain as three of the big banks enforce the Reserve Bank's latest interest rate hike today.

The RBA's monetary policy board unanimously decided to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points, up to 3.85 per cent, at its first meeting of the year on February 3, in a move widely expected by economists.

CBA, NAB and ANZ officially shifted their variable rates for home loan customers today after confirming they would pass on the hike in full.

READ MORE: Angus Taylor emerges victorious from leadership spill, ousting Sussan Ley as opposition leader after just nine months

Westpac variable mortgage customers will see their rates increase on Tuesday.

While the majority of borrowers saw their rate rise this morning, lenders are required to give those paying minimum monthly repayments more time to gather the extra cash.

Lenders must send customers a letter before adjusting their repayment and give them time to prepare for this higher amount.

After sending out letters to customers, Westpac, NAB and ANZ must give at least 30 days' notice before enforcing the new rate.

CBA must provide a minimum of 20 days' notice.

The hike will add around $100 to an average mortgage holder's monthly repayments, although many borrowers have a buffer built up thanks to last year's three cuts.

Following the changes Westpac is set to offer the lowest advertised variable rate out of the major banks at 5.49 per cent.

CBA's rates will today jump from 5.34 per cent to 5.59 per cent, the second most affordable option.

NAB will have the highest rate at 5.94 per cent, while ANZ is set to offer 5.75 per cent from today.

More broadly, the new average owner-occupier variable rate is estimated at 5.77 per cent, according to Canstar.

More than 40 lenders are tipped to offer a lower rate of 5.50 per cent on the same loan, while the new lowest variable rate is likely to be 5.25 pr cent once all the RBA hikes are made.

Canstar Data Insights Director Sally Tindall urged borrowers to "be proactive" and request a rate review following the cash rate increase.

"For an owner-occupier who's paying down their debt, a competitive rate is now around 5.50 per cent, but, once the dust settles, we expect the market leader to sit closer to 5.25 per cent," she said.

"If you're sitting on a rate starting with a 6, there's no sugar coating it: you're paying a loyalty tax."

In addition to the variable hikes this morning, ANZ has increased fixed rates by up to 0.40 on its owner-occupier principal and interest rates, to 5.89 per cent for a one-year term.

READ MORE: The RBA has hiked interest rates. So what does that mean for your mortgage?

That means Westpac now offers the lowest fixed rate out of the majors at 5.49 per cent for a one-year term, followed by 5.74 per cent from NAB under the same conditions.

CBA offers a minimum fixed rate of 5.94 per cent for a one-year term.

No lenders are offering under five per cent.

The lowest fixed rate is 5.09 per cent, according to Canstar, while seven lenders are offering fixed rates under 5.25 per cent.

Despite rates increasing on the whole, banks can still negotiate on an individual basis, Tindall said.

"If you haven't asked for a rate review in the last six months, pick up the phone or fire off a request from your banking app asking for one."

She also advised mortgage holders to resist the temptation to extend their loan terms or switch to interest-only payments in the wake of the hike.

READ MORE: Man misses 'so many' calls after winning entire $80 million Powerball jackpot

Switching to an interest-only loan for two years would decrease monthly minimum repayments for a $600,000 debt by $576, but would cost an extra $27,982 in the long-term, Canstar data shows.

For someone with the same debt, extending a 25-year loan term by five years would cost more than $134,000 over the life of the loan, despite minimum repayments dropping by $274 a month.

"While these moves offer immediate relief, potentially dropping repayments by hundreds of dollars, they can come with a massive sting in the tail," Tindall said.

"Before you sign up for years of extra debt, call your bank and demand a better rate. It's one of the best ways to lower your repayments without increasing the total cost of your loan."

Homeowners have been warned to prepare for possible future rate hikes, with economists predicting a further increase when the RBA meets next in May.

CBA, Westpac and NAB's cash rate outlook have all predicted a further 0.25 per cent increase in May, which would bring the cash rate to 4.10 per cent.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Staff allegedly told the group of diners to ‘get out of here in 30 minutes’.

Ival Brownlee claimed he hadn’t used since 2012 – but hair tests proved otherwise.

New settings cut the minimum investment from $15m to $5m for growth visas.