Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, the now former Liberal Party leader, will retire from politics.
Photo by
LUKAS COCH
Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley has announced she will resign from politics after losing a Liberal Party leadership spill, triggering a by-election.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Party members met on the morning of Friday, February 13 to vote on its leadership after Angus Taylor announced his intention to contest the top position.
Mr Taylor won the challenge convincingly, with the leadership ballot showing 34 votes to Ms Ley’s 17.
Addressing the media at Parliament House, Ms Ley reflected on her 25-year career in politics following her ousting from party leadership after nine months.
Sussan Ley at a press conference after the Liberal Party leadership spill at Parliament House in Canberra on February 13.
Photo by
MICK TSIKAS
“I love the western plains of NSW, the Murray and Murrimbidgee rivers, and the rural communities that it has been my enormous privilege to represent,” she said to reporters.
“I will be spending the next couple of weeks thanking the amazing people of Farrer, and expressing my gratitude to them for the honour of representing them.”
Ms Ley will formally tender her resignation in coming weeks, leading to what is expected to be a fierce by-election.
The seat was decisively won for the ninth time by Ms Ley at last year’s federal election, with independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe presenting the strongest competition.
Ms Milthorpe announced she would re-contest the seat on Friday afternoon, and said the region was “ready for change”.
Following Ms Ley’s resignation, NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton said she would not rule out running for the seat, and had some “serious thinking to do”.
On his election blog, respected election analyst Antony Green said it was “certain” the National Party and One Nation would enter candidates.
Addressing Mr Taylor’s appointment, Ms Ley wished him well, but took the opportunity to throw a not-so-subtle jab.
“It is important that the new leader gets clear air, something that is not always afforded to leaders, but which, in the present moment, is more important than ever,” she said.
“I leave it for others to judge this period of my leadership, now and with the passing of time.”
26°C