Ley Sets Out to Rebuild Liberals With a Moderate Pitch

Ley urged a Liberal return to core values: strong economic management, lower taxes, energy realism, public trust, and more women in Parliament.

Australian Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addresses the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on June 25, 2025. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has begun the difficult task of repositioning the Liberal Party after its crushing May 3 election defeat, using her first major speech as leader to chart a new course defined by modernity, inclusion, and party reform.

In an address at the National Press Club, Ley sketched a vision of a “Modern Australia” while making clear she intends to reconnect with women, migrants, small business owners, and inner-city voters.

Admitting the party was “smashed,” Ley promised not just a policy overhaul but a cultural reset.

A key theme throughout her address was a call for the Liberal Party to return to its core strength of sound economic management and to once again champion lower taxes for Australians.

Her speech also zeroed in on three big fronts: restoring public trust, developing a pragmatic energy policy that may shift from net-zero orthodoxy, and boosting female representation without enforcing top-down quotas.

“We are the alternative government, and we must act like it,” she said, conceding that voters sent a clear message.

“Australians want better answers from us.”

Ley also emphasised returning to the party’s foundational ideals.

“The Liberal Party is at its best when we focus on building aspiration in our country, that thread which connects every part of Australian society,” she said.

Net-Zero Commitment on Notice

Ley has flagged a review of the Coalition’s energy and emissions policies, including the party’s stance on net zero by 2050—signalling a shift as internal divisions resurface over the direction of climate policy.

While Ley personally endorsed the economic and environmental benefits of cutting carbon emissions, she stopped short of reaffirming the net-zero target, saying the issue would be reassessed through a new internal process.

A working group led by Shadow Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Dan Tehan will spearhead the review.

The panel will include key frontbenchers such as Deputy Liberal Leader and Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien, along with Susan McDonald, Angie Bell, Alex Hawke, Dean Smith, and Andrew Willcox.

The group has been tasked with crafting a policy that balances emissions reduction with energy reliability and affordability.

“Our guiding principles are clear,” Ley said. “Any future Coalition policy must ensure energy is reliable, affordable for households and businesses, and contributes meaningfully to global efforts to reduce emissions.”

The Coalition’s position on energy will be crucial as it prepares for the next federal election. Ley said any final policy must reflect the realities facing Australian families and businesses.

“People don’t just want promises about the future—they want bills they can pay now and industries that can grow sustainably,” she said.

Recruiting Women and Tackling Teal Seats

On gender equity, Ley called for urgent cultural change but did not endorse formal quotas.

“Our party must preselect more women in winnable seats,” she said.

“I’m agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen.”

She said the responsibility for candidate selection lies with state divisions but emphasised that failing to increase female representation is “not fine.”

Ley committed to personally identifying and recruiting more women to stand for parliament and encouraged divisions to adopt any effective measures, including quotas, if they choose.

Touching on the so-called teal seats, Ley congratulated MP Tim Wilson for winning one back and said the Liberal agenda must speak to those communities.

“They’ll deliver change, representation, and strong results for them,” she said.

She also made clear the importance of acting like a government-in-waiting.

“We are at our best when we focus on making government better, not bigger. When we argue for lower taxes, not higher. And when we talk about policies to create more opportunity, instead of just criticising Labor for creating less,” she said.

Defence Readiness Questioned

Ley urged the Albanese government to take national security and defence more seriously, warning that Australia cannot afford complacency in an increasingly volatile global environment.

Quoting the government’s own Defence Strategic Review, which said that the “strategic warning time for conventional conflict” has evaporated, Ley questioned whether the government is acting decisively enough.

“Are we as prepared as we need to be, and are we seeing straight talk from this government?” she asked.

Referring to recent reports of Chinese naval ships circumnavigating Australia, Ley said, “We called it out at the time, and we would do so again,” while reaffirming support for respectful engagement with Beijing.

Ley revealed she had received briefings from national security officials about the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East and praised defence personnel for assisting Australians to evacuate.

“These developments underscore the need for Australia to step up our commitment to defence,” she said.

Leadership Reset And Party Reform

When asked about former Party Leader Peter Dutton’s hardline opposition tactics, Ley indicated a more moderate approach.

“We’ll be constructive where there’s something to be constructive about. If there’s something that comes before the parliament that is deserving of criticism, we won’t hesitate,” she said.

Ley said that while electoral disappointment was sobering, it also presented an opportunity for renewal. She committed to a broad organisational review and promised reforms to boost membership and restore public trust.

“The Australian people need a strong and effective alternative to vote for at the next election. Our first step is to listen, so we properly understand how we can improve.”