Sussan Ley has been promoted as the new deputy leader of the Liberal Party. This is an extraordinary moment in Australian politics, as she becomes the first woman to have held this position at any time. The Coalition has been through a rough patch lately. That announcement came one week after a surprising loss in the special elections held in early November. Ley, a member of parliament since 2001, played up her deep bench experience in her 60 Minutes play. Throughout the program, she put personality to her name in her televised meet and greet to the nation and opened up about her complex life.
Choosing Ley to lead the party at this time could help the Liberal Party craft a roadmap to recovery after significant losses. In her televised introduction, she spoke eloquently about her own journey. She demonstrated her phenomenal piloting prowess and beamed as she presented her grandchildren to the huge crowd. That’s because this approach will help her resonate with voters and counter any initial bias against her tough leadership style. Ley emphasized that she does not feel the need to alter her image, believing that authenticity is crucial in her role.
Ley’s Extensive Political Background
Sussan Ley’s political career spans over two decades, during which she has held various frontbench roles, dating back to the Howard government era. Her depth of experience makes her a great choice to guide the party through its present predicament. Nonetheless, as she assumes this position, she comes armed with extensive understanding of parliamentary procedure and party politics.
Ley has successfully managed large and contentious portfolios, giving her the ability to move the ball in difficult legislative climates. Her tenure in parliament has made her an even more astute political strategist. Measuring the impacts has provided her with priceless information on where her constituents’ needs are changing most. As she prepares to sit opposite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the dispatch box in Question Time, Ley’s familiarity with parliamentary proceedings will be crucial.
“Obviously, those numbers were part of a discussion that occurred before an election we lost,” – Jonathon Duniam
With Ley’s ascent, the Liberal Party is again under the spotlight for its poor record on female representation. Under her leadership, there are currently just six women in the lower house. Ley’s most pressing challenge comes from this absence from the board. She appears committed to making the party more responsive and inclusive while listening to the shifting political environment she no doubt faces.
A New Direction for the Liberal Party
Now, under Sussan Ley’s leadership, the Liberal Party have taken that bait. They are prepared to go to bat for at least two major bills that Labor is expected to introduce this week. This decision reflects Ley’s resolve to work together and across party lines. Second, it sends the clearest possible signal that the party is committed to engaging in constructive oversight with government.
This style marks a significant departure from the approach taken by former leader, Peter Dutton. Her goal is to restore hope inside the party’s ranks. Her leadership has the potential to revolutionize the Liberals. It is an opportunity to stem their freefall and re-establish confidence among the electorate.
Ley gets to prepare for her first big parliamentary encounters. She needs to keep to the party ship whilst charting new currents of opposition to Albanese’s majority government. The political landscape is still very fluid, and the way she chooses to wade through these initial days will dictate how her leadership is defined.
“I don’t think that any university should, as some have, use international students as a cash cow. That’s not appropriate because it’s not a good business model, but we need to recognise that a large part of the funding for especially regional universities comes from international students.” – Jonathon Duniam
The Future of Leadership in Australian Politics
Sussan Ley’s rise to power represents more than just one appointment — it’s indicative of a larger trend within the Liberal Party and Australian politics in general. Secondly, she needs to concentrate on unifying her party. Further, she’ll need to reorient its values and priorities to match the politics of the day. Ley is still at work bringing her party members together. As she does this, her leadership will come under a horrific strain in the political battle against the anti-Labor government.
As the newly elected leader of the federal Liberal Party, she has a long and daunting to-do list in her wake. She should not have to fight both a negative media narrative and still keep important policy debates like these first in the political conversation. How effective her leadership will be largely depends on her ability to fill the chasm inside her own party. Beyond this, she needs to win over voters beyond her base.
Sussan Ley is looking forward to her first Question Time with Albanese as PM. It will be exceedingly interesting to watch how she markets herself and the LP going forward. Ley’s leadership will be key in turning around the party’s electoral fortunes. It will have a profound influence on party politics and national policy in Australia.
