Sussan Ley’s Swift Fall from Liberal Leadership Peak

Sussan Ley, the first woman to lead Australia's Liberal Party, lost a leadership vote on February 13, 2026, after just 276 days in the job. The 64-year-old politician from rural New South Wales stepped down as opposition leader amid party infighting and poor polls, paving the way for Angus Taylor to take over. Ley, who has represented the seat of Farrer since 2001, announced she will resign from parliament soon after the defeat.

Background

Sussan Ley entered politics after a varied career that included work at the Australian Tax Office and jobs like air traffic controller and stock-mustering pilot. Born in 1961, she first won the seat of Farrer in 2001, taking it from the National Party following the retirement of Tim Fischer. That election was tight, with Ley scraping through by just 206 votes after preferences flowed heavily to her National rival.

Over the years, Ley held key roles in government under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison. She served as minister for environment, health, and aged care, among others. After the Coalition lost the 2022 election, she became deputy leader of the Liberal Party in May 2022, elected without opposition.

The path to leadership opened in 2025 when Peter Dutton lost his seat of Dickson in the federal election. As the longest-serving Coalition MP, Ley stepped in as acting leader. She then won the party vote against Angus Taylor, 29 to 25, becoming the first woman to lead the Liberals, the Coalition, or serve as opposition leader at the federal level. At 63, she was the oldest first-time opposition leader since Arthur Calwell in 1960.

Her time at the top came during turmoil. On May 20, 2025, the Coalition briefly dissolved over policy rifts between Liberals and Nationals. They reformed eight days later, and Ley named a shadow cabinet with 16 Liberals and five Nationals, appointing Ted O'Brien as deputy leader and shadow treasurer.

Key Details

Pressure built quickly on Ley. On February 8, 2026, the Coalition reunited after another agreement between the parties. That same day, young Liberal leaders called for her to go.

"She should resign for the sake of our nation's future," said Cooper Gannon, Federal Young Liberal President, with Vice President Hannah Hutton by his side.

Hours later, a Newspoll showed Ley as the least popular opposition leader since Simon Crean in 2003.

Things worsened on February 11 when Angus Taylor quit the shadow ministry. He pointed to the opposition's falling performance under Ley. Two days later, MPs Jess Collins and Phillip Thompson forced a leadership spill. In the vote, Taylor beat Ley 34 to 17. Her 276-day stint ranks as the second shortest in Liberal history, just behind Alexander Downer.

Ley belongs to the moderate wing of the party. She calls herself a feminist and supports a republic over the monarchy. She backed same-sex marriage in 2017. During past leadership fights, like the 2018 spills, she supported Peter Dutton over Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.

The By-Election Battle

Ley announced her resignation from Farrer right after the loss. The rural seat along the Murray River has been hers since 2001. She won with double-digit margins in two-party races, but independents narrowed that lead. In 2019, her margin was 10.9 percent; in 2025, it fell to 6.2 percent against an independent.

With Ley gone, the Nationals plan to contest Farrer for the first time since 2001. Under Coalition deals, they stayed out while she held it. Now, expect a Liberal candidate facing Nationals, One Nation, and likely independents. Labor might skip it, as they rarely top 25 percent there. Analysts see a chance for an independent like Helen Milthorpe, who got 20 percent in 2025, to win if votes split.

What This Means

Ley’s exit highlights strains in the Liberal Party after back-to-back election losses. Taylor now leads as the Coalition eyes recovery. His win shows conservative support overpowering moderates in the vote.

The Farrer by-election could test Coalition unity. Nationals running against Liberals risks splitting the conservative vote, helping independents or others. Recent elections saw independents surge in rural seats, pushing incumbents close.

For women in Australian politics, Ley’s story draws attention. She broke barriers as the first female Liberal leader, but her short time raises talks of tough conditions for women at the top during hard times. Party members must pick a new candidate for Farrer soon, amid talk of pre-selection fights.

Taylor takes over with polls low for the opposition. Ley’s shadow cabinet included figures like O'Brien, but changes are likely. The party faces questions on direction after the Coalition's on-off splits in 2025.

Ley's long service ends on a low note. She leaves behind a record of ministerial work and a push for Liberal values like hard work and opportunity. The by-election will show if her seat stays Liberal or flips in the mess.