Sussan Ley

The Honourable Sussan Ley MP
Minister for Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 December 2014
Preceded by	Peter Dutton
Minister for Sport
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 December 2014
Preceded by	Peter Dutton
Assistant Minister for Education
In office 18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014
Preceded by	Kate Ellis
Succeeded by	Simon Birmingham
Member of the Australian Parliament for Farrer
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 November 2001
Preceded by	Tim Fischer
Personal details
Born	(1961-12-14) 14 December 1961 Kano, Nigeria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Children	3
Residence	Albury, New South Wales
Alma mater	La Trobe University University of New South Wales Charles Sturt University
Occupation	Aircraft pilot, taxation officer
Website	sussanley.com

Sussan Penelope Ley (born 14 December 1961), Australian politician, has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Farrer, New South Wales. Ley was the Assistant Minister for Education in the Abbott government from 18 September 2013^[1] until 23 December 2014, when she was appointed Minister for Health.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Early years and background

Ley was born in Kano, Nigeria to English parents. Her family migrated to Australia when she was 13.^[7] She was educated at La Trobe University, the University of New South Wales and Charles Sturt University, and has masters degrees in taxation and accountancy.

When Ley was 19 she enrolled in flight school and gained her commercial pilot's licence when she was 20. She has been a waitress, cleaner, air traffic controller and commercial pilot, and later a farmer and shearer's cook. She met her future husband while aerial stock-mustering in south-west Queensland. They settled on her husband's family farm in north-east Victoria, and have three children.^[8] Ley was Director of Technical Training at the Australian Taxation Office in Albury from 1995 to 2001 before entering politics.^[9]

Career

Ley was appointed Parliamentary Secretary (Children and Youth Affairs) in October 2004 and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in January 2006.^[10]

Following the 2007 election, Ley was appointed Shadow Minister for Housing and Shadow Minister for Status of Women by Opposition Leader, Dr Brendan Nelson,^[11] moving to Shadow Minister for Customs and Justice when Malcolm Turnbull became Opposition Leader in September 2008.^[12]

When Tony Abbott became Opposition Leader in December 2009 she was given the portfolio of Shadow Assistant Treasurer^[13] and was moved to Shadow Minister for Employment Participation and Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Childhood Learning after the 2010 election.^[14] On 16 September, Ley was appointed Assistant Minister for Education in the Abbott Government, with responsibility for childcare.^[15]

As part of a ministerial reshuffle, on 23 December 2014 Ley was promoted to cabinet, to become the Minister for Health.^[2][3][4][5]

References

Abbott Ministry (2013–) Prime Minister: Tony Abbott Cabinet Eric Abetz Kevin Andrews Bruce Billson Julie Bishop George Brandis Mathias Cormann Peter Dutton Joe Hockey Greg Hunt Barnaby Joyce Sussan Ley Ian Macfarlane Scott Morrison Christopher Pyne Andrew Robb Nigel Scullion Warren Truss Malcolm Turnbull Outer Ministry Simon Birmingham Jamie Briggs Michaelia Cash Mitch Fifield Josh Frydenberg Luke Hartsuyker Michael Keenan Fiona Nash Marise Payne Stuart Robert Michael Ronaldson Parliamentary Secretaries Karen Andrews Bob Baldwin Darren Chester Steven Ciobo Richard Colbeck Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Paul Fletcher Michael McCormack Kelly O'Dwyer Christian Porter Scott Ryan Alan Tudge Dismissed/resigned David Johnston Arthur Sinodinos