Sussan Ley is expected to be “consultative” and foster collaboration as the newly-appointed Liberal leader, as she cannot risk estranging any factions within her diminished party following the election setbacks, according to Nine political editor Charles Croucher.
Ley was elected over opponent Angus Taylor this morning, winning by 29 votes to 25.
Her new deputy, Ted O’Brien, was elected with 38 votes over Phil Thompson, who received 16.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who shifted allegiance from the Nationals to the Liberal party aiming to be Taylor’s deputy, did not put forth her nomination following Taylor’s defeat.
“(Ley’s) going to have to be consultative, because … she’s going to need every one of them to be in any way combative against the prime minister,” stated Croucher.
He said Ley, who had been former Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s deputy, had an “incredible life story” and her background could be used in her pitch to voters.
“Having immigrated here with her family, she trained to be a pilot, she’s been a jackaroo, she’s a grandmother, she has a great backstory that I think we’ll hear more of in the coming days,” Croucher said.
“She had a history as a punk rocker and can be good company when she’s having a good time, so I think we’ll see a bit of that.”
Politically, he said, Ley had been an advocate for small business, and he expected her to return to a small-government outlook.
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“But also she’s someone who has been willing to adapt and change to please whoever’s in charge of the party at the time,” he said.
“So, I think we’re going to see her now in charge, and that’s the big challenge for her – what does that look like?”
Despite Taylor’s defeat, and the controversy around Price’s jump from the Nationals party room to the Liberals, Crouchers said he expected both of them to be included in Ley’s strategy.
Ultimately, he said, the party as a whole faced an uphill battle.
“There’s a long run to go before this side of politics is anywhere near government again,” he said.
