The Hon. Sussan Ley

Sussan Ley is the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia – the first woman in the nation’s history to serve in both roles.

Her election to the leadership follows almost 25 years of service in the Australian Parliament as the Federal Member for Farrer, a seat she has held since 2001.

She most recently served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and has held senior roles in government under four Liberal prime ministers.

An experienced policymaker and Cabinet Minister, Sussan Ley brings to the leadership deep knowledge of economic management, national security, social policy and environmental stewardship.

Her ministerial responsibilities included Health, Early Education and Environment.

She has helped shape landmark national decisions through cabinet to restore the Budget to balance, strengthening border protection, and securing Australia’s interests through agreements such as AUKUS. As Environment Minister, she delivered record funding to protect the Great Barrier Reef and advanced Australia’s strategic presence in Antarctica.

Sussan was born in Nigeria to British parents and spent her early years in the Middle East before migrating to Australia at the age of 13.

Her upbringing spanned schools in the United Kingdom, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, before embarking on a diverse and unconventional career.

Driven by a passion for aviation, she gained her commercial pilot’s licence at just 19 – financing her training through cleaning jobs, office work, and food truck shifts.

Her aviation experience ranged from air traffic control in Sydney and Melbourne to aerial stock-mustering across remote parts of New South Wales and Queensland.

Later settling in regional Victoria, she continued her connection to outback Australia, working away as a shed hand and shearers’ cook while co-managing a livestock and dairy farm near Tallangatta for 17 years.

It was a chapter shaped by the grit, unpredictability and resilience that define life on the land.

Sussan began tertiary study when her first child turned one, eventually earning a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Taxation Law and a Master of Accounting – balancing part-time study with parenting and farm management.

Her professional career included senior roles with the Australian Taxation Office in Albury and Canberra.

Sussan’s first election win came by a margin of just 206 votes — a numerical quirk given the Cessna 206, a rugged bush aircraft, was fittingly her favourite plane.