Sussan Ley wins Liberal Party leadership: Airplane earrings worn at address to media points to her past career

As Sussan Ley gave her first address to media as the newly-installed Liberal leader, two tiny airplane charms hanging from her ears caught the light.

The politician’s victory over Angus Taylor in this morning’s leadership vote makes her the first woman to sit at the helm of the federal Liberal Party, not to mention Australia’s first female opposition leader.

It’s a milestone that would undoubtedly make the younger version of Ley – the one asked by a male colleague in a previous field, “How does it feel coming to work every day knowing you’re not wanted because you’re a woman?” – smile.

That’s where the airplane earrings come in.

READ MORE: ’Will the Liberal Party finally address its “women problem”?’

Aged 19, with a commercial pilot’s license under her belt, Ley had her heart set on working for a major airline.

However, at the time, being a woman made that dream seem insurmountable.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald in 2022, she recalled being told, “Look, people don’t want to see a woman flying an aeroplane when they get in, so it’s going to be tough.”

“There were very few women pilots being accepted, and the companies were very honest about that,” she told the publication.

“I wanted to fly the big jets. I never did.”

READ MORE: How Sussan Ley will lead the Liberals

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

In her 20s, she began working in an air-traffic control centre in Melbourne.

It was there the aforementioned question from a male coworker left Ley hiding in a cupboard, crying.

She left the world of air-traffic control to take up aerial stock-mustering in south-west Queensland, her first flying job.

You won’t recognise these politicians in their younger days

Though Ley, 63, never had the chance to “fly the big jets” and become one of Australia’s first female commercial pilots, she’s undoubtedly made huge steps for women in the nation’s politics.

She is now the first female leader of the Liberal Party in its 80-year history.

“I am humbled. I am honoured. I am up for the job,” she said at Parliament House this afternoon.

“Here in this room, just a couple of hours ago, our colleagues placed their faith and their trust in us [Ley and deputy Ted O’Brien].

“These positions are gifts of our party room. And I will always respect and value what the members of my party room tell me.”

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.