By political reporter Maani Truu
Sussan Ley will be the new Liberal leader, beating conservative rival Angus Taylor to become the first woman to lead the federal party in its 80-year history.
The 63-year-old former deputy leader, who was backed by the moderate faction, received 29 partyroom votes compared to Treasury spokesperson Mr Taylor’s 25.
Ted O’Brien, who was most recently the party’s energy spokesperson and one of the key architects of the Coalition’s nuclear plan, will take the role of deputy leader, defeating Phil Thompson in the ballot 38–16.
In a statement a short time after the vote, Mr Taylor congratulated Ms Ley and said his competitor’s success was a milestone for the party, which needed to come together.
“The Liberal Party has suffered a historic defeat, and we have lost many good people in this election,” he said.
“This result shows we must do more to convince Australians that the Coalition is the best party to support aspiration, economic opportunity, and the Australian dream.”
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price did not contest the deputy leadership ballot as anticipated after it was clear Mr Taylor had not won.
The outspoken Northern Territory politician sensationally defected from the Nationals days after the federal election to join his ticket. The move was seen by some in the party as a power grab to boost Mr Taylor’s chances.
“While the outcome today is not the one that I would have wanted, it in no way lessens my commitment to the Liberal Party and the broader Coalition,” she said in a statement.
Ley tasked with uniting fractured party
Ms Ley now faces the mammoth task of uniting the party after a landslide Labor election victory that saw former Liberal leader Peter Dutton ousted from his own seat.
Both candidates for leader were senior members of Mr Dutton’s team and, therefore, are closely associated with the failure of the Liberal campaign.
The Coalition currently holds just 42 seats in the House of Representatives compared to the government’s 93, with three electorates still too close to call.
Ms Ley pitched herself as the more centrist option, declaring ahead of the vote that the party needed to “reflect a modern Liberal Party” and that appointing her as leader would “send a strong signal to the women of Australia”.
“We did let the women of Australia down,” she said.
“We have to understand why people didn’t support us, that they weren’t inspired by our policy offerings, and that they didn’t believe we were the best choice to lead the country forward.”
Following the ballot, former speaker Andrew Wallance rejected the idea that Ms Ley’s appointment was just about sending a message to women.
“Sussan is a woman with 24 years’ experience in this place, and I think nothing beats experience,” he said.
“If you’re asking me was that the sole reason [to elect her as leader], absolutely not. Absolutely not.”
Outgoing Liberal senator Linda Reynolds said she was “delighted” with the result of the ballot, characterising it as a response to the election thumping.
“Australia spoke very clearly to the Liberal Party. We’ve listened and we’ve acted. And we’re united,” she said.
Ms Ley will also have to work with an emboldened National Party, which largely held on to its seats as the Liberal Party went backwards.
Nationals leader David Littleproud was re-elected in a partyroom vote on Monday, fending off a challenge from right-wing senator Matt Canavan.
The new Liberal leader has held the regional New South Wales electorate of Farrer for more than two decades, during which time she has served in a long list of senior positions in the party, including in cabinet during the Morrison era.
A veteran politician, she had been the environment minister, health and aged care minister, and sport minister, before rising to the deputy leadership.
She resigned from the frontbench in 2017 during a travel expenses scandal and after coming under fire for buying a luxury Gold Coast apartment while on a taxpayer funded trip.
