Sussan Ley has made history by becoming the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in its 80-year history, defeating conservative rival Angus Taylor in a closely contested leadership ballot.
The 63-year-old former deputy leader, backed by the party’s moderate faction, won 29 votes to Taylor’s 25 in the party room on Tuesday, following the Coalition’s heavy loss in the federal election.
Liberal whip Melissa Price confirmed the result to reporters outside the party room, and urged journalists to direct further questions to the new leadership team, who will front the media later today.
In a separate ballot, Queensland MP Ted O’Brien was elected deputy leader of the party, comfortably defeating Phil Thompson 38 votes to 16.
Ley now faces the significant task of uniting a fractured party and rebuilding its standing after a bruising campaign that saw former leader Peter Dutton lose his own seat.
Source: ABC News
