Opposition Leader Sussan Ley performs Acknowledgement of Country, signals new tone for Liberal Party

Sky News AU

4 days ago

Newly appointed Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has adopted an Aboriginal Acknowledgement of Country, breaking from the position of former leader Peter Dutton.
Ms Ley succeeded Mr Dutton as Opposition Leader after he lost his seat of Dickson at the 2025 federal election.
While Mr Dutton had moved away from recognition of the Aboriginal Australian community at public events, Ms Ley has embraced a different stance.
'I'd like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today,' Ms Ley said at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
Her decision to formally recognise indigenous people at the high-profile event draws a stark contrast to Mr Dutton.
The former Opposition Leader had repeatedly argued that Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies had become 'overdone'.
He also stated that he would not stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags if elected as Prime Minister.
Mr Dutton's position attracted criticism as being emblematic of a culture war approach that intensified under his leadership.
In her address, Ms Ley indicated that the Liberal Party would undergo a period of deep reflection after its electoral wipeout on May 3.
She announced an existential review into long-term challenges confronting the party, including the loss of teal-held inner-city seats and ageing party membership.
'Our aim is to ensure the Liberal Party's future policy offering connects with voters across the country,' she said.
'I see supporting Indigenous Australians as a priority, I want to shout out to Kerrynne Liddle, a proud Indigenous woman.
'She's a Senator for South Australia and I'll be in close touch with her and all of my colleagues about how to best support the aspirations of Indigenous Australians.'
The shift is particularly noteworthy given Ms Ley's former role as deputy under Peter Dutton, where she often defended the party's cultural positions.
Asked at her first press conference after winning Liberal Party leadership, she said that Welcome to Country ceremonies would be held if the event was meaningful.
'With respect to Welcome to Country, it's simple: if it's meaningful, if it matters, if it resonates, then it's in the right place,' Ms Ley said.
'As Environment Minister and Health Minister I listened carefully and participated in Welcome to Country ceremonies that were all of those things.
'If it is done in a way that is ticking a box on a Teams meeting then I don't think it is relevant.
'It actually diminishes the value of what it is and it's important that we understand that.'