Sussan Ley then made history as the first female leader of the Liberal Party. As the opposition leader, this new role places her in front of both great challenges and mighty opportunities. Yet Ley will step into a highly politicized environment as she assumes the role. She needs to deftly manage her party’s internal factions as she crafts her opposition plan to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government. As she enters this interstitial role, her approach has the possibility of being quite different than her male predecessors have usually conformed to.
In this regard, Ley’s leadership style will be markedly different from former opposition leaders Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton. She has already indicated a shift in her approach, toning down past aggression in favor of a more constructive and positive political persona. This change aims to create room for deputy leader Ted O’Brien to take on more aggressive tactics, thus allowing Ley to focus on fostering cooperation and presenting her party’s agenda effectively.
The internal politics of the Liberal Party will be an important consideration in Ley’s approach. Ley’s team is expected to encounter similar challenges as the Greens, particularly regarding when to oppose government initiatives and when to negotiate. The pressure to attract more women voters and candidates is likely at the forefront of Ley’s agenda, as she seeks to revitalize the party’s image and broaden its appeal.
In her former life as opposition leader, Ley was often a thorn in Albanese’s side. She unapologetically made it clear that she was not afraid to play dirty against her challengers. With greater focus on collaboration and playing a long-game of positioning, she might pick her fights more judiciously in the years ahead. Key observers have noted that Ley has an uphill battle ahead of her. She’ll need to be diligent in maintaining her party’s cohesiveness during this politically delicate, unfolding situation.
First, it appears that the Labor Party is willing to be more subtle with Ley. This strategic approach contrasts sharply with the way they played Morrison and Dutton. Albanese should be concerned that his combative approach will do him harm. If he does push ahead and courts a backlash, Ley should find herself allied with the crossbenchers. As one Labor member told me this week, “Labor can’t monster Sussan Ley. That means they have to take a new approach to engage in a meaningful way with Ley’s new leadership.
Ley’s time as deputy leader has not been trouble-free. She was hounded every inch of the way by hard-left elements of her party, which included the fierce denunciation from deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi. Having been shaped by these experiences, all three could lead in very different styles. Her goals include uniting her party and addressing government-led challenges from outside.
Beyond just dealing with internal party politics, Ley is challenged by larger electoral realities. The Liberal Party has struggled in recent elections to attract female voters. That’s why it’s so important for Ley to tailor her outreach strategies to this key demographic. Her previous remarks underline her commitment to supporting women within the party:
“There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman. In fact, I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party.” – Sussan Ley
As Ley takes on her new role, all eyes will be on her every step. They’re looking to see how she navigates those different pressures and begins to forge her own path and a unique identity as a leader.
Now major political commentators are raising the alarm over the challenges hidden beneath Ley’s feet. She has an uphill battle ahead of her. She needs to reform a ruling party beset with corruption, infighting, and incompetence, while deeply involved in running the government. As one analyst pointed out, “The jury is out on whether Sussan Ley will be able to make any sort of fist of her job.”
Looking ahead, the political landscape is changing quickly. In that sense, it’s doubtful how well Ley will be able to steer the Liberal Party through these choppy waters. Her capacity to combine assertiveness with collaboration will determine the success of her leadership. Much more importantly, it will determine the future direction of the party.
With more legislation set to go through the ping pong game with the House under Albanese’s government, Ley will have to use her confrontations strategically. The difficulty will be in advancing the Liberal Party’s agenda while engaging collaboratively where they can and should be.
“So, I do think we’re going to need to be quite deft in how we handle balance of power in this term… People want us to be constructive.” – Larissa Waters
With multiple hurdles ahead, Ley’s success may ultimately depend on her capacity for strategic thinking and adaptability in an evolving political landscape.
