Sussan Ley to quit politics after being deposed as Liberal leader triggering contentious byelection

Sussan Ley will soon quit politics, saying she plans on “stepping away completely and comprehensively from public life” after being defeated in a partyroom spill for the Liberal leadership, setting up a by-election for her seat of Farrer which could see the opposition’s parliamentary numbers dwindle further.

Ley, the former opposition leader who lost the vote 34-17 to conservative challenger Angus Taylor, said her tenure had been “very tough” but she bore no ill will to colleagues who voted against her, and wished her successor good luck.

In a short statement to the media after the result was announced, in which she took no questions, Ley said she looked forward to spending time with her family and pursuing her hobby of aviation.

“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,” Ley said.

“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 for 25 years. Shortly thereafter, I will be tendering my resignation to the speaker.”

Ley’s seat of Farrer, a large rural electorate in New South Wales along the Victorian border, was formerly held by the Nationals. At the 2025 election, Ley faced a strong challenge from an independent candidate, while One Nation won 6.6% of the primary vote. Farrer is surrounded by Nationals-held seats, and borders the Victorian seat of Indi, held by independent Helen Haines.

A byelection in the seat would be an early test of Taylor’s leadership, particularly in how the Liberals would fare against a resurgent One Nation.

Ley in her statement noted that she had become Liberal leader shortly after her mother had died.

“I’m not sure what comes next for me. I look forward to stepping away completely and comprehensively from public life, to spend time with my family, and to reconnect with my enduring passion, aviation, which taught me, if I had an ego, I’d be dead. It’s been quite useful in politics,” Ley said.

More details to follow