Sydney, 13 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Sussan Ley became the first woman to lead Australia's Liberal Party on Tuesday, taking over as opposition leader after the party's heavy election defeat earlier this month.

Ley takes over from Peter Dutton, who was widely blamed for the party's poor showing in the parliamentary election.

A former health and environment minister, Ley served as Dutton's deputy leader and has been a member of parliament since 2001.

The election saw Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secure a second term in office with his centre-left Labor Party, which achieved one of its strongest results in decades.

In contrast, the conservative Liberal-National coalition, led by Dutton, suffered one of its worst-ever defeats.

Dutton even lost his parliamentary seat in a historic blow, marking the first time an opposition leader in Australia had failed to hold onto their seat during an election.

He floundered during the election campaign partly due to controversial statements and his closeness to the US administration.

For the first time in their 80-year history, the Liberals have now chosen a woman to lead the party. Born in Nigeria and raised in the United Arab Emirates to British parents, Ley moved to Australia as a teenager and renounced her UK citizenship to enter politics.

While the Liberals were casting their votes for a new leader, Labor's ministers were being sworn in at Parliament House in Canberra.

With counting still under way, Labor is on track to expand its majority to over 90 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives, up from 77 in the previous parliament, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

The coalition, meanwhile, is heading for one of its worst-ever results, expected to secure just over 40 seats.

Photo: EPA