The Australian federal Liberal party has elected its first female leader, with Sussan Ley narrowly defeating Angus Taylor by a vote of 29-25.
Ley, 63, who served as deputy leader to Peter Dutton in the previous term, had the backing of the party’s moderates.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who recently defected from the Nationals to join Taylor’s ticket, withdrew from the deputy leadership race following Taylor’s defeat. Taylor had the support of the party’s conservatives.
Despite Price’s strong appeal within Liberal branches, the strategic move did not succeed.
The new deputy leader is Queenslander Ted O’Brien, 51, a key architect of the opposition’s controversial nuclear policy, which many believe negatively impacted the Coalition’s election results. O’Brien defeated fellow Queenslander Phil Thompson with a vote of 38-16.
The narrow margin of the leadership vote suggests potential instability for Ley’s leadership. Additionally, two of her supporters, Linda Reynolds and Hollie Hughes, are set to leave the Senate on June 30.
In the Coalition government, Ley variously held the portfolios of health, sport, aged care and environment.
An immediate challenge for Ley will be reshuffling the frontbench, especially what roles Taylor and Price will have.
Ley has held the southern NSW regional seat of Farrer since 2001.