🗣️ Sussan Ley reckons the Coalition will change
Opposition Deputy Leader Sussan Ley fronted the National Press Club this week.
If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically a big nerd conversation that the media loves. Someone important gets up, gives a speech, and then answers questions from journalists.
Ley speaking at the Press Club is significant, because former opposition leader Peter Dutton notoriously never did.
Recently, the Club hosted the likes of Jim Chalmers, Anthony Albanese — even Cheek Media co-founder Hannah Ferguson right after the election.
👩💼 Women and energy the big focus
Ley used the speech to outline two big focus areas the Coalition wants to galvanise around after the — in her words — “smashing” the party received at the election:
Women
Energy
Her language on getting more women into the Liberal Party was strong. It marked a real tonal shift, at least publicly.
She described herself as a “zealot” for getting women preselected, and said she was open to quotas — kind of.
“If some state divisions choose to implement quotas, that is fine. If others don’t, that is also fine.”
Everything’s fine! Well, except not having enough women for the 2028 election.
🔌 A new energy working group
Ley also announced the creation of a “working group on Energy and Emissions Reduction Policy.”
The goal? Build a strong energy system that’s affordable, reliable, and helps Australia meet its global climate obligations.
The group will be led by Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan, and will include:
Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien
Susan McDonald (Resources)
Alex Hawke (Industry)
Angie Bell (Environment)
Shadow Assistant Ministers Dean Smith and Andrew Willcox
Including Ted O’Brien, who also happens to be Deputy Leader and the same guy who said the party was in “no rush to dump the nuclear policy.”
So let’s see what they end up deciding on.
🤝 Some olive branches… kind of
Ley also invited the Prime Minister to work together on “standing up for women and children.”
And she announced a full review into the Liberal Party — which, crucially, she says will be completed and made public by the end of the year.
🙃 But will anything actually change?
Ley can say she wants more women in the party — and that’s a good first step.
But when the average party member is reportedly a 68-year-old man, it’s a massive uphill battle. Especially when many rank-and-file members are openly opposed to things like gender quotas.
And that new energy policy she mentioned? It’s meant to be inclusive — “every single member of the Coalition will have the opportunity to engage with it.”
That includes Matt “no net zero” Canavan.
So… has the Coalition changed? I’ll believe it when I see it.