Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has praised a former Liberal senator who quit the party in disgust over the behaviour of some current MPs.

Hollie Hughes, who had been booted from her winnable spot on the party's senate ticket ahead of the May federal election, tendered her resignation from the Liberals on Tuesday.

"There are some people who are completely inept, who are lazy, who are not across the details," she told 2GB radio.

"It is an absolute rabble."

In a Facebook post later that day, the former senator said she would do her best to support Ms Ley from outside the party.

The opposition leader faced a barrage of questions about her former colleague's resignation during media interviews on Wednesday morning.

"Hollie is a dear friend," Ms Ley told Nine's Today show.

"Her statement cl

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