‘Sexist’: Karl Stefanovic grills new Liberal leader

New Liberal leader Sussan Ley copped a series of tough questions this morning - including a very tough question from Karl Stefanovic.

New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has been confronted with a series of brutal questions on national television on how long she’s got in the top job as a fight brews over nuclear power.

Speaking this morning on the Today show, Ms Ley has launched a breakfast TV blitz across multiple channels.

But hosts Sarah Abo and Karl Stefanovic didn’t miss with the tough questions about why it’s taken so long for the Liberal Party to promote women.

“What took your party so long to elect a female leader,’’ Stefanovic asked. “Are they sexist or something?

A diplomat Sussan Ley said she was proud to be the first female leader but stressed there were bigger issues ahead.

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“We’ve had outstanding leaders of our party, I’m incredibly humbled to have the endorsement of my party room just a few days ago, to be the leader of the Liberal Party, it’s an incredible honour,’’ she said.

“Now Karl, people reflect on the female aspects and I understand that. And I want to say it’s significant, but my appointment is about much more than that, we didn’t meet the expectations of the Australian people at the last election.

“We have to change, we have to. Step up, we have to have a fresh approach.”

Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo hit Sussan Ley with a series of brutal questions. Picture: Nine

Host Sarah Abo then asked if it was the case that she was “partly responsible for this absolute bloodbath at this last election as Peter Dutton’s deputy.”

“Sarah, we all have to accept responsibility and I don’t step back from that and after every election, we look at what went wrong, at what we didn’t do that we should have done, and we’ll do that in an open and transparent way,’’ Ms Ley replied.

“Look, Peter Dutton and I have different styles, we’re different personalities, and I will bring a different approach to my leadership. Again, harnessing the team and we will look, we will look at, well, we will look at what we did wrong, done better.”

There’s a storm brewing in the Coalition over the fate of nuclear power with reports Nationals leader David Littleproud travelled to Albury, NSW to hold talks with Ms Ley over a new Coalition agreement.

Some are suggesting the Nationals want to lock in nuclear as part of that formal suggestion but the Liberals want to thrash it out after the disastrous election outcome.

The Nationals leader travelled to Albury for talks with Ms Ley where she is caring for her mother who is in end of life care.

The new Liberal leader was asked: “Is your party sexist?” Picture: Nine

“I had a productive and respectful meeting with David Littleproud yesterday here in Albury and it was the first of many meetings, and I look forward to continuing discussions,’’ Ms Ley said.

“Again, what unites our two party rooms is that unity and sense of purpose to take it up on behalf of the Australian people, families, communities, individuals who want to get ahead, who the Liberal Party will always back, will always back their aspirations.”

“Are you nuking nuclear,’’ host Stefanovic asked.

“Well, I’m not here to talk about individual policies, nothing’s been adopted, nothing’s been abandoned.”

She was then asked if she was likely to be replaced before the next election by a man.

“You deserve your place there and there’s no doubt about you’ve worked incredibly hard to do to get there,’’ Stefanovic asked.

“But my worry is you do all the hard work rebuilding the party, then at some point some dude in the blue suit and RM Williams takes over because they just think a liberal woman or the wrong liberal woman can win an election.”

“Well that’s not the response I’ve had Karl,’’ Ms Ley replied.

“I’ve got to be really honest, I’ve had a terrific and positive response.”