Australian opposition elects first female leader after poll drubbing

Australian opposition elects first female leader after poll drubbing Australian opposition elects first female leader after poll drubbing

SYDNEY — Australia’s main political opposition Liberal Party selected Sussan Ley on Tuesday as the first female leader in the party’s 80-year history, as it faces the challenge of rebuilding after suffering a rout in the recent federal election.

Ley, previously deputy leader of the party that is in a coalition with the National Party, defeated rival Angus Thompson, the former shadow treasurer, by 29 votes to 25.