Sussan Ley. Photo: ABC/Matt Roberts
Sussan Ley will be the new Liberal leader, beating conservative rival Angus Taylor to become the first woman to lead the federal party in its 80-year history.
The 63-year-old former deputy leader, who was backed by the moderate faction, received 29 partyroom votes compared to treasury spokesperson Taylor's 25.
Ted O'Brien, who was most recently the party's energy spokesperson, will take the role of deputy leader, defeating Phil Thompson in the ballot 38-16.
Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price did not contest the deputy leadership ballot after she sensationally defected from the Nationals partyroom days after the federal election to join Taylor's ticket.
Ley now faces the mammoth task of uniting the party after a landslide Labor election victory that saw former Liberal leader Peter Dutton ousted from his own seat.
Both candidates for leader were senior members of Dutton's team and therefore are closely associated with the failure of the Liberal campaign.
The Coalition currently holds just 42 seats in the House of Representatives compared to the government's 93, with three electorates still too close to call.
Ley has held the regional New South Wales electorate of Farrer for more than two decades, during which time she has held a long list of senior positions in the party, including in cabinet during the Morrison era.
She served as environment minister, health and aged care minister, and sport minister, before rising to the deputy leadership.
- ABC
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