Sussan Ley's promises fell short as divisions in the Liberal party deepened

Sussan Ley became Liberal leader in May 2025 promising to modernise and consult; after 276 days she lost the leadership amid internal disagreement over policy and party direction.

Sussan Ley took the Liberal leadership in May 2025 promising to revive and re-orientate a party she said had become detached from modern Australia. She opened her leadership by pledging consultation rather than "captain's calls" and repeated the message at a National Press Club speech as she sought to attract more women and broader support. Nine months later her leadership had ended after intense internal pressure, and her stated ambition to return the Liberals to the centre ground remained unfulfilled. What is known: - Ley was elected leader on 13 May 2025 after defeating Angus Taylor and was the first female leader in the party's 81-year history. - She pledged to consult the party room and put existing policies, including the net zero by 2050 commitment, up for debate; an open-ended review of that target followed. - The Nationals announced they would abandon the net zero target and pressure from senior conservatives led Ley to move away from the Morrison-era commitment. - A Newspoll showing the Coalition's primary vote at 18% helped trigger a successful leadership challenge by Angus Taylor just after 9am on Friday, following a period of internal unrest. - Several rightwing figures and commentators repeatedly criticised Ley; senior colleagues such as Andrew Hastie and Melissa Price made interventions that increased pressure on her leadership, and some frontbenchers resigned or were sacked during her tenure. - Controversial public remarks by Ley and disputes over responses to events including the Bondi massacre and subsequent hate speech debates contributed to fractures within the Coalition; in the days before the challenge, multiple frontbenchers visited her office and requests were made to end her leadership. Summary: Ley's 276-day leadership ended after a successful challenge by Angus Taylor, during a period marked by policy reviews, high-profile interventions from within the party and tension with the Nationals. The episode left the party divided and raised questions about its direction. Undetermined at this time.