Sussan Ley has declared herself the “right person” to lead the Liberals, believing her appointment would send a strong message to women she believes the party has let down.
Ms Ley, who has spent the past three years as deputy leader, is courting the support of colleagues as she seeks to fend off a challenge from shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.
Another potential contender Dan Tehan confirmed on Friday that “after careful consideration and conversations with my colleagues, I have decided not to stand for a leadership position”.
Party MPs will meet on Tuesday to choose Peter Dutton’s successor after the Coalition’s crushing election defeat which has significantly weakened the Liberals parliamentary position.
Ms Ley, from the party’s moderate faction, would be the first female Liberal parliamentary leader at a federal level if successful in convincing her colleagues to elect her.
In an interview with Sunrise on Friday, the Albury-based Farrer MP confirmed she would put her hand up for the leadership after days of speculation.
“I’ve listened. We got it wrong. We need to do things differently going forward, and we do need a fresh approach,” Ms Ley said.
“So, on Tuesday morning, when the Liberal partyroom meets in Canberra, I will be putting myself forward for the position of leader of the federal party.”
Ms Ley was asked by host Nat Barr whether she was “aware of the term the glass cliff?”.
A glass cliff is a term often used to describe a situation where a female is handed a senior leadership position where the risk of them failing in the role is much higher.
“Broadly, I am Nat these terms come and go, they don’t, in my view, relate to what’s happening now,” Ms Ley responded.
“It’s vital that we pick the best candidate to take our party forward.”
Ms Ley pointed to the fact she has been in parliament just shy of 25 years and had a team approach which was aimed at “using, harnessing the talents of every single member of that team, for a competitive policy offering that reflects the timeless values of the Liberal Party”.
“That’s what I’m about right here and right now,” she said.
Barr pushed further on the glass cliff claim, putting it to Ms Ley that it is “probably common knowledge, that your party has a women problem is that what’s happening here, they’re putting you in to clean up the mess?”.
“I am putting my hand up, Nat. I’m determined and convinced that I am the right person to lead the party forward at this time,” Ms Ley said.
“I think my appointment would send a strong signal to the women of Australia. But it’s about much more than that. It is about the policy offering.
“It is about what modern Australia expects of us as Liberals. It is about working collegiately across our party, and it is about a strong work ethic, something that I’m known for in our party and in our country. And I am not going to take a backward step.”
The Liberals lost multiple seats at the election, including Hughes and Banks in Sydney and Menzies and Deakin in Victoria, while Mr Dutton lost his own electorate.
But the leadership contender is confident the party can turn its fortunes around over the next three years in the face of an emboldened Albanese government which has an increased majority.
“We can be successful. We can win the next election. And this is a moment to look forward and really bring the Australian people with us on this journey,” Ms Ley said.
She said since the election defeat she has been speaking to colleagues, party members and constituents and conceded “we got it wrong”.
“We need to do things differently going forward, and we do need a fresh approach,” Ms Ley said.
“So, on Tuesday morning, when the Liberal party room meets in Canberra, I will be putting myself forward for the position of leader of the federal party.”
Ms Ley acknowledged there was disappointment among women about the policy offerings the Coalition put forward.
“We did let the women of Australia down, and that’s part of the conversations that I’ve been having, and what we will continue to have,” 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.”
The Liberal partyroom has been bolstered by the addition of CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who has switched from the Nationals party room.
“I feel like I would be best placed as someone who is ultimately a fighter… to support the Coalition from the Liberal Party room as a position of strength,” Senator Price told Peta Credlin on Thursday night.
At the end of the interview, Credlin asked Senator Price if she was “willing to be drafted into some sort of leadership role” or willing to put her hand up.
“This has been a massive step. I will not put any limitations on myself,” she said.
Sources close to Mr Taylor’s camp have hinted Senator Price may run for deputy under the shadow treasurer when the partyroom meets.
The race between Ms Ley and Mr Taylor has heated up in recent days, with sources aligned to Mr Taylor accusing Ms Ley of undermining Mr Dutton by not contributing to policy.
Mr Tehan on Friday, in ruling out a leadership tilt, said he would “work hard and serve in whatever capacity I am asked to rebuild our party”.
“The Australian people want a Liberal Party that speaks to their lives, their families and their hopes for the future. They want small businesses and farmers to thrive. We must create a political movement that can provide that vision,” he said.
“That means an honest look at the 2025 election, our history and the future. We must also look deep into the heart of the party itself. We must do the hard work to reconnect Liberal values and the Australian people.
“We must develop a platform that offers lower taxes and higher productivity; smaller and more efficient government where not a single taxpayer dollar is wasted; one that makes the reality of home ownership achievable to young Australians and outlines an immigration plan that serves Australia’s long-term interests.”
