The Liberals have a long road to relevance – and Sussan Ley’s slim victory means she begins on shaky foundations

<p>Appointing a woman with moderate Liberal values sends a message, but that won’t be enough to win over lost voters </p><ul><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>As Liberal MPs trudged into the opposition party room to choose a new leader, Anthony Albanese and his euphoric Labor frontbench were being sworn in to their portfolios at Government House.</p><p>There’s just six kilometres between the corridors of Parliament House and the governor general’s residence in Yarralumla, but a vast chasm separates the moods of the two parties after the 3 May election.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/sussan-ley-marks-a-new-beginning-but-theres-still-a-long-way-back-for-the-liberals">Continue reading...</a>