<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Outgoing opposition leader </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sussan-ley" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sussan Ley"><span>Sussan Ley</span></a><span> has announced she will quit parliament and pursue a life out of the public eye after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/liberal-party-leadership-spill-angus-taylor-defeats-sussan-ley/e02a6189-6fb5-4262-af53-7c5acea1c826" rel="" target="_blank" title="being toppled by Angus Taylor as leader of the Liberal Party."><span>being toppled by Angus Taylor as leader of the Liberal Party.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley, who was first elected as Farre.r MP in south-western </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> in 2001, said she will tender her resignation, adding it is important the new leader has "clear air" to steer the Liberal ship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She will spend the next couple of weeks in her electorate to thank her constituents for their support during her 25 years in parliament.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/liberal-leadership-spill-angus-taylor-sussan-ley-to-fight-for-opposition-leader-title/91f3b270-02bb-45d7-bd3e-c2d15d54b558" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Angus Taylor successfully challenges Sussan Ley for Liberal leadership</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/angus-taylor-social-media-facebook-post-old-blunder-coming-back-to-haunt-him/bea9a512-565f-4205-a093-49b2dd742536" target="_blank" title="Old social media blunder is coming back to haunt Angus Taylor"><strong><span>Old social media blunder is coming back to haunt Angus Taylor</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Shortly thereafter, I will be tendering my resignation to the speaker," Ley told media in Canberra during her concession speech.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am not sure what comes next for me. I look forward to stepping away, completely and comprehensively, from public life."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sussan-ley-quitting-politics-resigning-from-parliament-what-next/952b10c9-e8e5-4b46-b967-5b31f7db725a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley said she would spend time with family, and reconnect with her enduring passion for aviation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She gained her commercial pilot's licence at age 19 and worked as an aerial stock-mustering pilot, before regaining her flying licence in 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Which taught me, if I had an ego, I'd be dead," Ley joked of her flying career.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been quite useful in politics"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her resignation will trigger a by-election in the seat of Farrer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-protests-central-islamic-body-calls-for-public-apology-for-town-hall-protest/91293789-4885-414f-ba6b-9724bc084751" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Central Islamic body calls for public apology for Town Hall protest</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She acknowledged her short tenure as opposition leader had been "tough" and came with sleepless nights.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley was the first woman in history to be elected leader of the federal Liberal Party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no doubt that it has been a challenging time to lead the party after we suffered the worst defeat in 81 years," Ley said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Referencing often-touted punk rock past, Ley finished by saying she would continue to find wisdom in the music's enduring motif – "a fearless and honest belief in yourself".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During her speech, Ley said there was "no hard feelings" associated with Taylor's leadership challenge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Today I want to express gratitude for the Liberal party that I have known and loved for half of my adult life," she added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I wish Angus Taylor well.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I know that he has experience, energy and drive."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ley spent nine months leading the party after the opposition's thumping 2025 federal election defeat under Peter Dutton.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>