In her inaugural address following her election as leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley paid heartfelt tribute to her gravely ill mother, Angela. As the first female leader of the party, the 63-year-old Ley expressed deep emotion during her speech, revealing that she believed her recent visit on Mother’s Day might be one of her last with her mother, who is currently receiving end-of-life care in Albury, situated near the NSW-Victoria border.
Ley, a mother of three with six grandchildren, reflected on the difficult week she had faced while staying connected with her mother’s medical team and family. She emphasised the significance of her mother’s influence in shaping the values of resilience, self-reliance, and persistence that she embodies today, which she attributed to her mother’s upbringing in wartime Britain.
Following her press conference, Ley shared her intention to visit her mother once more. Representing the southern NSW electorate of Farrer, Ley’s leadership role sees her stepping up after having served as deputy leader under Peter Dutton in the previous parliamentary term. Born in Nigeria, Ley spent her early years in the UAE and the UK before relocating to Australia as a teenager. Her poignant remarks and the acknowledgment of her family’s profound influence highlight both her personal challenges and her commitment to her new role.