'I have felt that pain': Ley reveals personal domestic violence experience

The Advertiser

4 hours ago

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has revealed she has personal experience of domestic violence, while vowing to prioritise women's safety.
"I understand the pain that comes with coercion and control. Because I have felt that pain too," Ms Ley told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I understand what it is like when you blame yourself for the actions of others. Because I have blamed myself, too."
The Liberal Party's first female leader pledged to "take this perspective to every decision I make", saying: "I will never let domestic and family violence fall down the list of priorities."
Asked if the comment meant she had first-hand experience of domestic violence, Ms Ley said: "Many women in our communities and in the rooms that we walk in have told me their personal stories, and I've identified with them."
She said family and domestic violence was "our country's greatest national shame" that required "new approaches, stronger partnerships, greater resources, and absolute resolve" to tackle.
When asked about which demographic of voters she wanted to make a trademark focus - in the vein of John Howard's battlers - Ms Ley described the plight of Australians who struggled under the weight of caring responsibilities and costs.
"I talked to women who have lost everything because of a bad relationship break-up, and don't want to admit to me that they're living in their car," she said.
"I've seen children in school uniforms, perfectly dressed, getting out of cars to go to school. That's not Australia ... I want to fight for those people."
On the issue of women's representation in the Liberal Party, Ms Ley declined to call for quotas but said the party "must preselect more women in winnable seats".
Ms Ley said she was "agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen."
When pressed on the fact this approach had been cited by her predecessors, she shot back: "I am the first woman in my position, and I don't believe anyone in my position has had the resolve that I have."
"I want to work proactively, passionately with our state divisions to achieve more women in the Liberal Party," she said. "What we have now is completely unacceptable."
The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.
Only a third of Liberal MPs are women, compared with 56 per cent of Labor MPs, a statistic Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seized on to attack the Coalition.
Ms Ley reflected on her time as a Canberra schoolgirl in her speech, saying she had "never considered running for public office" as a "shy young student with a British accent" at Campbell High.
"If you had told that girl then that she would be standing here now, she wouldn't have believed you," Ms Ley said.
"No one told her she could rise to a position of political leadership. ... She did have dreams, but they involved steering planes, not steering government."
She shared how her ambition to pursue a vocation and not just a job had been shaped by her parents.
"My dad worked in military intelligence, and his mission was peace and security," Ms Ley said.
"I would jump in the Land Rover with him after school as he sped between caves in the hills and backstreet dives, speaking loudly in Arabic to his contacts.
"Even as a child, I instinctively sensed how important this work was."
Equally, Ms Ley said, her late mother had "found her true calling" as a mental health nurse.
Of her own calling to gain a pilot's license, she shared the struggle to fund the pursuit and be taken seriously as a woman.
"I lived in a bedsit under the bridge in Queanbeyan and my clothes were from Vinnies because every dollar I made went towards flying lessons," Ms Ley recalled.
"One male instructor said: 'Why are you doing this? You're no good at it.'"
The Opposition Leader said the review of the Liberal Party's 2025 electoral wipe-out by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin would be broad-reaching.
"It will look at the election campaign and also the period leading up to it," she said, noting the Coalition had lost 33 lower-house seats over the last two elections, and eight in the Senate.
The review, to be completed by the end of the year and be made public, will examine the Liberal Party's performance at the federal secretariat level, in state and territory divisions and the parliamentary team.
Asked if its findings would be given more weight than those of the 2022 election review, Ms Ley said: "This is a different era ... What matters now is what we do next."
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has revealed she has personal experience of domestic violence, while vowing to prioritise women's safety.
"I understand the pain that comes with coercion and control. Because I have felt that pain too," Ms Ley told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I understand what it is like when you blame yourself for the actions of others. Because I have blamed myself, too."
The Liberal Party's first female leader pledged to "take this perspective to every decision I make", saying: "I will never let domestic and family violence fall down the list of priorities."
Asked if the comment meant she had first-hand experience of domestic violence, Ms Ley said: "Many women in our communities and in the rooms that we walk in have told me their personal stories, and I've identified with them."
She said family and domestic violence was "our country's greatest national shame" that required "new approaches, stronger partnerships, greater resources, and absolute resolve" to tackle.
When asked about which demographic of voters she wanted to make a trademark focus - in the vein of John Howard's battlers - Ms Ley described the plight of Australians who struggled under the weight of caring responsibilities and costs.
"I talked to women who have lost everything because of a bad relationship break-up, and don't want to admit to me that they're living in their car," she said.
"I've seen children in school uniforms, perfectly dressed, getting out of cars to go to school. That's not Australia ... I want to fight for those people."
On the issue of women's representation in the Liberal Party, Ms Ley declined to call for quotas but said the party "must preselect more women in winnable seats".
Ms Ley said she was "agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen."
When pressed on the fact this approach had been cited by her predecessors, she shot back: "I am the first woman in my position, and I don't believe anyone in my position has had the resolve that I have."
"I want to work proactively, passionately with our state divisions to achieve more women in the Liberal Party," she said. "What we have now is completely unacceptable."
The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.
Only a third of Liberal MPs are women, compared with 56 per cent of Labor MPs, a statistic Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seized on to attack the Coalition.
Ms Ley reflected on her time as a Canberra schoolgirl in her speech, saying she had "never considered running for public office" as a "shy young student with a British accent" at Campbell High.
"If you had told that girl then that she would be standing here now, she wouldn't have believed you," Ms Ley said.
"No one told her she could rise to a position of political leadership. ... She did have dreams, but they involved steering planes, not steering government."
She shared how her ambition to pursue a vocation and not just a job had been shaped by her parents.
"My dad worked in military intelligence, and his mission was peace and security," Ms Ley said.
"I would jump in the Land Rover with him after school as he sped between caves in the hills and backstreet dives, speaking loudly in Arabic to his contacts.
"Even as a child, I instinctively sensed how important this work was."
Equally, Ms Ley said, her late mother had "found her true calling" as a mental health nurse.
Of her own calling to gain a pilot's license, she shared the struggle to fund the pursuit and be taken seriously as a woman.
"I lived in a bedsit under the bridge in Queanbeyan and my clothes were from Vinnies because every dollar I made went towards flying lessons," Ms Ley recalled.
"One male instructor said: 'Why are you doing this? You're no good at it.'"
The Opposition Leader said the review of the Liberal Party's 2025 electoral wipe-out by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin would be broad-reaching.
"It will look at the election campaign and also the period leading up to it," she said, noting the Coalition had lost 33 lower-house seats over the last two elections, and eight in the Senate.
The review, to be completed by the end of the year and be made public, will examine the Liberal Party's performance at the federal secretariat level, in state and territory divisions and the parliamentary team.
Asked if its findings would be given more weight than those of the 2022 election review, Ms Ley said: "This is a different era ... What matters now is what we do next."
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has revealed she has personal experience of domestic violence, while vowing to prioritise women's safety.
"I understand the pain that comes with coercion and control. Because I have felt that pain too," Ms Ley told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I understand what it is like when you blame yourself for the actions of others. Because I have blamed myself, too."
The Liberal Party's first female leader pledged to "take this perspective to every decision I make", saying: "I will never let domestic and family violence fall down the list of priorities."
Asked if the comment meant she had first-hand experience of domestic violence, Ms Ley said: "Many women in our communities and in the rooms that we walk in have told me their personal stories, and I've identified with them."
She said family and domestic violence was "our country's greatest national shame" that required "new approaches, stronger partnerships, greater resources, and absolute resolve" to tackle.
When asked about which demographic of voters she wanted to make a trademark focus - in the vein of John Howard's battlers - Ms Ley described the plight of Australians who struggled under the weight of caring responsibilities and costs.
"I talked to women who have lost everything because of a bad relationship break-up, and don't want to admit to me that they're living in their car," she said.
"I've seen children in school uniforms, perfectly dressed, getting out of cars to go to school. That's not Australia ... I want to fight for those people."
On the issue of women's representation in the Liberal Party, Ms Ley declined to call for quotas but said the party "must preselect more women in winnable seats".
Ms Ley said she was "agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen."
When pressed on the fact this approach had been cited by her predecessors, she shot back: "I am the first woman in my position, and I don't believe anyone in my position has had the resolve that I have."
"I want to work proactively, passionately with our state divisions to achieve more women in the Liberal Party," she said. "What we have now is completely unacceptable."
The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.
Only a third of Liberal MPs are women, compared with 56 per cent of Labor MPs, a statistic Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seized on to attack the Coalition.
Ms Ley reflected on her time as a Canberra schoolgirl in her speech, saying she had "never considered running for public office" as a "shy young student with a British accent" at Campbell High.
"If you had told that girl then that she would be standing here now, she wouldn't have believed you," Ms Ley said.
"No one told her she could rise to a position of political leadership. ... She did have dreams, but they involved steering planes, not steering government."
She shared how her ambition to pursue a vocation and not just a job had been shaped by her parents.
"My dad worked in military intelligence, and his mission was peace and security," Ms Ley said.
"I would jump in the Land Rover with him after school as he sped between caves in the hills and backstreet dives, speaking loudly in Arabic to his contacts.
"Even as a child, I instinctively sensed how important this work was."
Equally, Ms Ley said, her late mother had "found her true calling" as a mental health nurse.
Of her own calling to gain a pilot's license, she shared the struggle to fund the pursuit and be taken seriously as a woman.
"I lived in a bedsit under the bridge in Queanbeyan and my clothes were from Vinnies because every dollar I made went towards flying lessons," Ms Ley recalled.
"One male instructor said: 'Why are you doing this? You're no good at it.'"
The Opposition Leader said the review of the Liberal Party's 2025 electoral wipe-out by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin would be broad-reaching.
"It will look at the election campaign and also the period leading up to it," she said, noting the Coalition had lost 33 lower-house seats over the last two elections, and eight in the Senate.
The review, to be completed by the end of the year and be made public, will examine the Liberal Party's performance at the federal secretariat level, in state and territory divisions and the parliamentary team.
Asked if its findings would be given more weight than those of the 2022 election review, Ms Ley said: "This is a different era ... What matters now is what we do next."
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has revealed she has personal experience of domestic violence, while vowing to prioritise women's safety.
"I understand the pain that comes with coercion and control. Because I have felt that pain too," Ms Ley told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I understand what it is like when you blame yourself for the actions of others. Because I have blamed myself, too."
The Liberal Party's first female leader pledged to "take this perspective to every decision I make", saying: "I will never let domestic and family violence fall down the list of priorities."
Asked if the comment meant she had first-hand experience of domestic violence, Ms Ley said: "Many women in our communities and in the rooms that we walk in have told me their personal stories, and I've identified with them."
She said family and domestic violence was "our country's greatest national shame" that required "new approaches, stronger partnerships, greater resources, and absolute resolve" to tackle.
When asked about which demographic of voters she wanted to make a trademark focus - in the vein of John Howard's battlers - Ms Ley described the plight of Australians who struggled under the weight of caring responsibilities and costs.
"I talked to women who have lost everything because of a bad relationship break-up, and don't want to admit to me that they're living in their car," she said.
"I've seen children in school uniforms, perfectly dressed, getting out of cars to go to school. That's not Australia ... I want to fight for those people."
On the issue of women's representation in the Liberal Party, Ms Ley declined to call for quotas but said the party "must preselect more women in winnable seats".
Ms Ley said she was "agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen."
When pressed on the fact this approach had been cited by her predecessors, she shot back: "I am the first woman in my position, and I don't believe anyone in my position has had the resolve that I have."
"I want to work proactively, passionately with our state divisions to achieve more women in the Liberal Party," she said. "What we have now is completely unacceptable."
The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.
Only a third of Liberal MPs are women, compared with 56 per cent of Labor MPs, a statistic Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seized on to attack the Coalition.
Ms Ley reflected on her time as a Canberra schoolgirl in her speech, saying she had "never considered running for public office" as a "shy young student with a British accent" at Campbell High.
"If you had told that girl then that she would be standing here now, she wouldn't have believed you," Ms Ley said.
"No one told her she could rise to a position of political leadership. ... She did have dreams, but they involved steering planes, not steering government."
She shared how her ambition to pursue a vocation and not just a job had been shaped by her parents.
"My dad worked in military intelligence, and his mission was peace and security," Ms Ley said.
"I would jump in the Land Rover with him after school as he sped between caves in the hills and backstreet dives, speaking loudly in Arabic to his contacts.
"Even as a child, I instinctively sensed how important this work was."
Equally, Ms Ley said, her late mother had "found her true calling" as a mental health nurse.
Of her own calling to gain a pilot's license, she shared the struggle to fund the pursuit and be taken seriously as a woman.
"I lived in a bedsit under the bridge in Queanbeyan and my clothes were from Vinnies because every dollar I made went towards flying lessons," Ms Ley recalled.
"One male instructor said: 'Why are you doing this? You're no good at it.'"
The Opposition Leader said the review of the Liberal Party's 2025 electoral wipe-out by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin would be broad-reaching.
"It will look at the election campaign and also the period leading up to it," she said, noting the Coalition had lost 33 lower-house seats over the last two elections, and eight in the Senate.
The review, to be completed by the end of the year and be made public, will examine the Liberal Party's performance at the federal secretariat level, in state and territory divisions and the parliamentary team.
Asked if its findings would be given more weight than those of the 2022 election review, Ms Ley said: "This is a different era ... What matters now is what we do next."