Sussan Ley has taken over as leader of the Liberal Party following its worst electoral defeat in 80 years, inheriting a party riven by internal divisions and ideological conflict. Even before she officially declared her candidacy, a 'scorecard' circulated within Liberal circles, aiming to sabotage her bid by highlighting her perceived ties to factional powerbroker Alex Hawke and her past support for a Palestinian state. The document, whose origin was confirmed inside the party, also noted that Ley had been sacked as a minister, further undermining her prospects.
Ley ultimately defeated Angus Taylor in the leadership contest, despite facing a subterranean campaign that had previously denied her the foreign affairs portfolio in Peter Dutton's shadow cabinet. Her victory came ten days after the Coalition's catastrophic election defeat, which saw the Liberals lose over 30 lower house seats across consecutive elections, being all but wiped out in capital cities and abandoned by women, migrant communities, and young people.
The party's problems extend beyond electoral performance to a deep ideological rift between moderate liberals and rightwing conservatives, particularly over climate policy. In her first two months, Ley has begun repositioning the party, a step-change largely well received internally, according to conversations with over 20 Liberal MPs and insiders. However, her leadership faces tests from internal brawls over net zero and gender quotas, as well as lingering animosity over a shadow ministry lineup that rewarded supporters and punished rivals.
Powerful conservative forces, including former prime minister Tony Abbott, are determined to keep the party on the political right, resisting attempts to drag it to the centre. One MP expressed concern that 'this is going to be a very divisive period'. Ley's leadership campaign involved intensive travel to 22 seats between Anzac Day and 3 May, which some sources allege was a deliberate manoeuvre ahead of a potential challenge against Dutton, causing her to 'disappear' from the national campaign.
