Australians fail to identify Federal Opposition Leader, Prime Minister in street poll

We took to the streets armed with photos of the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, asking people to identify them. You’ll be shocked by the results.

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley attends a smoking ceremony to start the 48th parliament at Parliament House in Canberra. Our poll suggests people were hazy on who she was when shown her picture. Picture: Martin Ollman

The first female leader of the Liberal Party entered federal parliament today to eyeball Prime Minister Anthony Albanese across the chamber floor.

Following the Coalition’s crushing defeat in the May election – with Peter Dutton among the casualties – action in Canberra was finally back, and the Opposition had a new boss.

If only Sydneysiders knew who she was.

Sussan Ley has been the federal Member for Farrer since 2001, giving her almost a quarter of a century experience walking this country’s halls of power.

Serving under Primer Ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, Ms Ley held a range of ministerial portfolios in education, aged care, sport, health and environment and in 2022 became deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

Watch the video below to see how Sydneysiders responded

But when The Daily Telegraph took to the streets of the Sydney CBD this week, armed with photographs of Mr Albanese and Ms Ley, none of 100 people approached could put a name to her face.

Not one.

Monica Omtha and Thais Amorim discussing if they can recognise pictures of Anthony Albanese and Susan Ley. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Eleven of the 100 did identify her as a politician. But naming Sussan (with the double S) Ley or recognising her as the Opposition Leader was beyond them.

As a follow up, The Telegraph offered a multiple choice option. The 89 who did not know her by name or position were asked: “Is she a newsreader, a mining magnate or a politician?”

Only 39 guessed correctly. Another 36 chose the mining magnate option and 14 went for newsreader.

One respondent, 68-year-old Peter, went rogue and suggested the photo was an image of Mr Albanese’s wife.

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley MP speaks at the Ecumenical Service at Wesley Church ahead of the first sitting day of parliament since the election. But does Sydney know who she is? Picture: Getty Images

When told she was the Opposition Leader, he had a light bulb moment.

“She’s Sussan Ley?” he smiled. “She looks more like (Albo’s) wife.”

Another commented: “She’s giving me Pauline Hanson vibes.”

Even the Prime Minister fell well short of universal recognition in the political identity stakes.

While 57 could name him, 43 could not.

Offered a different list of multiple choice options, 21 correctly guessed him to be a politician, 18 thought he might be an NRL coach (note the Rabbitohs cap) and four went for banking executive.

Neither Prime Minister Anthony Albanese nor Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley were well recognised in our snap poll. Picture: Martin Ollman

Napoleon Bonaparte once said: “The most important thing in politics is timing.”

But the little French general might have been wrong.

Surely the most important thing is having voters know who you are.

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Originally published as Australians fail to identify Federal Opposition Leader, Prime Minister in street poll