Sussan Ley takes on Liberal leadership
As Labor's new ministry was sworn in. "I, Anthony Norman Albanese, do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia, her land, and per people, in the office of Prime Minister. The doors closed on the Liberal's Party Room meeting to elect a new leader. Sussan Ley came out on top, narrowly beating former opposition treasurer Angus Taylor to lead the party as it recovers from a tough election loss. "We listened to the Australian people on Saturday, and we will continue to listen to them around the country. We have to have a Liberal Party that respects modern Australia, that reflects modern Australia, and that represents modern Australia." Ms Ley was the moderate option - beating out a joint ticket of Angus Taylor and Jacinta Price. Ms Price defected from the National Party to join the Liberals just last week, announcing her bid for deputy alongside Mr Taylor on Instagram over the weekend. PRICE: "We have such passion for this country, for our party, and for the coalition as a whole. That's what I think Australians need to understand. We're a team that's prepared to get out there and fight." TAYLOR: "Now absolutely right, and you've been a great inspiration to me. But we've got to regroup, rebuild, and get back into the fight." The vote for the leader was first - and when Mr Taylor was unsuccessful, Ms Price did not contest for the deputy position. That instead went to Ted O'Brien, who is known as the architect of the coalition's nuclear proposal, serving as the opposition climate change and energy spokesman since 2022. That's possibly a signal the party will double down on its energy plan, although Ms Ley says the party will work through all its policy positions. "I committed to my colleagues that there would be no captain's calls from anywhere, by me. And I also committed during the discussions that I had with them this week that we would work through every single policy issue, we would canvas the different views, and we would take the time to get it right." Sussan Ley is the first woman to lead the Liberal Party. She was first elected for the regional NSW seat of Farrer in 2001, and has served as a minister in the sport, health, aged care and environment portfolios. But with the Liberal Party's worst result in decades, there are some concerns Ms Ley could be a scapegoat for the party, Director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at the Australian National University Michelle Ryan explains. "So the glass cliff is a phenomenon whereby women are more likely to take on leadership positions in times of crisis. We can think of Susan Ley's appointment in terms of a glass cliff kind of appointment. And, I mean, I would definitely stress that she's incredibly qualified for the job, but I do think there is something to look at in terms of the Liberals coming out of an unprecedented sort of electoral loss, and why it is that this is the first time that they've had a woman as their leader." She says it could put Ms Ley in a challenging position. "I think it is risky and precarious. It's how we often talk about the glass cliff. So the idea is that this is, of course, a very high position, leader of the opposition, but it's there's risk and precarity with it, because taking on a leadership role in times of crisis often opens you up for criticism and makes it very difficult to do a leadership job. It means that all eyes are on her, I guess. And when there's a lot of crisis to deal with, it means that often evaluations of leaders during times of crisis are perhaps unfair or difficult. So it'll be interesting to see how long she stays in the role." Ms Ley saying she expects to remain in the position for the parliamentary term. "Everyone who takes on this role takes it on with the responsibility and determination and passion that I have. And, 100 per cent, I will be here in three years but more than that we will be in a competitive position." Colleagues, including Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, welcome a new era for the party. "Absolutely, we've got to demonstrate that the Liberal Party is listening to the people of Australia and learning. I'm very pleased to be a part of that, and its time to rebuild and get on with it." With Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh saying the party needs to support Ms Ley as she takes the reins. "This is a first for us as a party, and we need to ensure that it doesn't stay a first. That we get in behind Sussan and we start the rebuild."
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