Sussan Ley Confirms Liberal Leadership Bid, Says ‘We Got It Wrong’

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley says Australians expect a party that will ‘listen to the people.’

Environment Minister Sussan Ley speaks during question time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 4, 2019. Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has confirmed she will run for the party’s leadership, promising to modernise the Liberals after their federal election loss on May 3.

Ley, who currently serves as deputy to outgoing leader Peter Dutton, is expected to formally nominate at the party room meeting scheduled for May 13.

“We got it wrong. Australia expects a change in direction and a fresh approach from the Liberal Party,” Ley said on May 9.

Ley said the party needed to reconnect with Australians, particularly women and younger voters, two groups seen as instrumental in Labor’s success at the May 3 election.

“Many Australians, including women and younger Australians, feel neglected by the Liberal Party.

“We must rebuild trust with all sections of Australian society and my election as leader of the Liberal Party would send a very strong signal that we understand things need to be done differently.”

Ley also pledged to return to the party’s foundations while developing new policies in response to modern challenges.

“We will carefully develop policies through our robust party room processes,” Ley said.

“Under my leadership, these policies will always be guided by the timeless values which were the foundation of Menzies’ Liberal Party.”

Born to English parents in Nigeria, Ley moved to Australia as a teenager, where she trained and later worked as a commercial pilot before entering politics.

She joined the Liberal Party in 1994 and has represented the New South Wales seat of Farrer since 2001.

Ley previously served in the Howard, Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments, holding portfolios including health, environment, and education. She became deputy leader after the Coalition lost the 2022 election.

The upcoming leadership vote follows a period of internal reflection for the party, after it lost key seats in outer suburban and regional areas once considered strongholds.

In recent times, the party has been criticised for lacking clearly defined policies—an element some within the party believe contributed to the scale of its defeat.

She is likely to face competition from Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, who has also been widely reported as preparing a leadership bid.

A new party leader will be decided by party ballot once federal election vote counts have been completed.

“We have an enormous depth of talent in our party room and I want to draw on all of it over the next three years,” Ley said.