Sussan Ley elected as new leader of federal Liberal party

The Member for Farrer in southern NSW defeated shadow treasurer Angus Taylor for the position with 29 votes to Taylor’s 25.

Transcript

00:01It is an enormous privilege to have been elected the leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.

00:09I am humbled, I am honoured, and I am up for the job.

00:14Ted, it's terrific to have you join me as a deputy.

00:18Here in this room, just a couple of hours ago, our colleagues placed their faith and their trust in us.

00:25And these positions are gifts of our party room.

00:30And I will always respect and value what the members of my party room tell me.

00:38I have great affection and great connection with the Liberal Party party room over a career of 25 years.

00:47And I've spent a lot of time this week talking to my colleagues, and I'm optimistic that they have the right ideas.

00:53And I'm positive about what lies ahead.

00:56But on May the 3rd, we faced a significant defeat.

01:03And the scale and the size of that defeat is not lost on any of us.

01:10And right now, we have to respect the result and reflect with humility.

01:18Can I say something about Angus Taylor?

01:22Can I acknowledge Angus Taylor for putting his hand up to lead the Liberal Party?

01:28He would have been a fine leader of the Liberal Party at this time.

01:33Angus and I have worked collegiately together over many years in government and in opposition.

01:39He's an intelligent, talented contributor to so many ideas, initiatives, and what we need to do as a Liberal Party going forward.

01:51And he will have an integral role in our party with the next steps going forward.

01:57As I said, we listened to the Australian people on Saturday, and we will continue to listen to them around the country.

02:07We have to have a Liberal Party that respects modern Australia, that reflects modern Australia, and that represents modern Australia.

02:17And we have to meet the people where they are, and that's what I'm committed to doing, and what I'm determined to do.

02:26I want to do things differently, and we have to have a fresh approach.

02:31I want to harness the talents of every single person in our party room going forward,

02:38to develop the clear, articulate policy agenda that does meet Australians where they are,

02:45to develop robust policy processes, to value those contributions,

02:52and I can't wait to get started, along with Ted, on that important task.