Australian conservatives elect first female party leader

Australia’s Liberal Party, the party representing mainstream conservatism in the country, on Tuesday selected Sussan Ley as leader after former head Peter Dutton lost his seat in the election earlier this month. Ley is the party’s first female leader in its 80-year history. In a May 9 statement announcing her candidacy for the position, Ley said her party needed to rebuild trust with the Australian people, especially women and young people. She said the Liberal Party needed to reflect modern Australia. Ley entered parliament in 2001, obtained a commercial pilot’s certificate and earned degrees in economics and accounting while at the same time raising her three children and rounding up livestock in the Australian outback.

What else is happening in Australian politics? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in Tuesday for his second term. His Labor Party secured more than half of the seats in the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate seats to win the election earlier this month. The party campaigned on promises to strengthen Medicare, increase affordable housing, and lower energy costs.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about the election.