On Wednesday 25 June 2025, the Liberal Party’s first female Leader, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, took the stage at the National Press Club and delivered an address outlining change and a Liberal Party for modern Australia. This was an historic address but coming some 15 years after the Hon Julia Gillard AC became Australia’s first female Prime Minister.
Before we get into the details of the address, join us at Nexus APAC as we showcase the unique life of the new Opposition Leader and the unorthodox path that has led her to the top job in the Liberal Party.
Who is Sussan Ley?
Ms Ley was born in Nigeria to British parents in 1961 and grew up in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom before migrating to Australia at the age of 13. Ms Ley’s father, Mr Edgar Braybooks, worked for British foreign military intelligence, while her mother, Mrs Angela Braybooks, worked as a mental health nurse. Ms Ley often refers back to her parents’ dynamic of bringing safety, security, and helping those in need as shaping her path in wanting to help Australians.
In her address to the National Press Club, Ms Ley detailed her unconventional path to becoming the Member for Farrer and eventually the Leader of the Liberal Party.
Upon graduating from high school, she became a self-proclaimed ‘farmer’s wife’, juggling jobs as a waitress, cleaner, short-order cook, rouseabout, air traffic controller and an outback pilot. Saving every dollar she earned to pay for more flying lessons to bridge the gap between herself and the more privileged boys, whose were being funded by their parents.
Her perseverance paid off when she finally secured a job as a bush pilot, ferrying 800 fleeces a day, cooking for the team, and transporting workers across the Australian bush.
However, she describes high interest rates and the wool floor price collapse as the driving force behind her decision to leave her occupation and undertake tertiary education for the first time as a 30-year-old mother.
Ms Ley obtained a Bachelor of Economics from La Trobe University in Wodonga, stating that without regional universities, many women like herself would never have the opportunity to excel and reach new heights.
She then went on to obtain a Master of Taxation Law and a Master of Accounting, which led her to work at the Australian Taxation Office as the Director of Technical Training.
In 2001, Ms Ley sought Liberal Party pre-selection for the Seat of Farrer following the retirement of former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationals, the Hon Timothy Fischer AC.
Ms Ley was subsequently pre-selected and won the Seat of Farrer at the 2001 Federal Election. Since then, Ms Ley has served in the following positions:
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition;
- Minister for the Environment;
- Minister for Health and Aged Care;
- Minister for Sport;
- Assistant Minister for Education;
- Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories;
- Shadow Minister for Housing;
- Shadow Minister for Women;
- Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs;
- Shadow Minister for Employment Participation;
- Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Childhood;
- Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training;
- Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business; and
- Shadow Assistant Treasurer.
Respecting, Reflecting and Representing Modern Australia
In her National Press Club Address, Ms Ley began by acknowledging the elephant in the room, and chose to face it head-on. She highlighted the fact that the Coalition now holds only 2 out of the 43 inner metro seats and 7 out of 45 outer metro seats, a figure she described as a reflection of a “deep and growing disconnect.” Ms Ley also quoted former Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard OM AC SSI, stating “the Australian people always get it right.”
Ms Ley also announced that the Liberal Party have appointed the Hon Pru Goward AO and the Hon Nick Minchin AO to conduct a root and branch review of the election result.
While not specifically addressing the reforms that will need to be implemented, Ms Ley highlighted that this review will closely examine how the Liberal Party engages with a range of voter groups, particularly multicultural communities, women, and youth.
These three voter groups, particularly women and the younger generation, polled heavily in favour of Labor and demonstrated feelings of disconnect with the agenda put forward by the Coalition at the previous election.
As such, Ms Ley stated that the Liberal Party must respect, reflect and represent modern Australia, highlighting the diverse and multicultural landscape that defines Australian voters. She particularly emphasised the need for the Liberal Party to better represent women. While she did not declare the implementation of a quota, she said that they are open to any solution that ensures the Liberal Party adequately reflects modern Australia.
Policies going forward
As anticipated, Ms Ley’s address did not detail policies and costings, instead focusing on a return to the traditional values of the Liberal Party and an agenda for the 48th Parliament, including:
- Stable and affordable energy while addressing emissions;
- Lower and fairer taxes;
- Affordable housing;
- Increased spending on defence;
- Empowering everyone, especially women;
- Improving cooperation with Indigenous Australians;
- A proactive health system; and
- A stronger Australia.
However, she did provide the media with a key item moving forward for the Coalition – the establishment of the Energy and Emissions Reduction Working Group.
The Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, will lead this group, supported by:
- Shadow Treasurer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Ted O’Brien MP;
- Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald;
- Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon Alex Hawke MP;
- Shadow Minister for the Environment, Ms Angie Bell MP;
- Shadow Assistant Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Dean Smith; and
- Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Mr Andrew Willcox MP.
The Working Group will directly report to Ms Ley, and Nationals Leader, the Hon David Littleproud MP, and has been tasked with developing policies towards:
- A stable energy grid which provides affordable and reliable power for Australian households and businesses; and
- Reducing emissions.
Ms Ley also highlighted that the Coalition will work constructively with the Government in these policy areas to ensure the above agenda is reflected in all legislation passed during the 48th Parliament.
Most commentators have given her first National Press Club Address good marks for this stage in the political cycle. Australian democracy is best with both a strong government and a strong opposition. Time will tell if this new Federal Leader of the Liberal Party can pick her team up from being “smashed” at the May election to being competitive at the next election. Watch this space!
Photo credit: Commonwealth of Australia
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