Sussan Ley had no choice but to dump Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

The damaging comments about Indian migrants were one thing, the refusal to apologise was another, but the red line was crossed when the senator wouldn't express confidence in Ley's leadership.

This was pouring accelerant on the flames of division burning for the past week in the Liberal Party.

If a shadow minister can't say whether she supports the leader, "what is she doing there?" asked Liberal senator Dave Sharma. It was a good question.

He didn't have to wait long for the inevitable answer.

This was the first big test of Sussan Ley's authority. To do nothing would have left her looking badly weakened, even humiliated.

In the end, Ley acted swiftly and made the call.

This was the only option, but dumping the senator i

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