16 February 2026
Chief Executive Women (CEW) congratulates The Hon. Angus Taylor MP on his election as Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition. We also congratulate Senator the Hon. Jane Hume on her election as the party’s Deputy Leader.
CEW acknowledges the leadership of The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, who made history as the first woman to lead the Liberal Party and as Australia's first female Leader of the Opposition.
We are disappointed that the party's first female leader was replaced after just nine months. Her departure from the leadership is a setback for women's representation at the highest levels of Australian politics, and we thank her for her service in the role.
For over 40 years, CEW has advocated for women's voices to be deeply embedded in policy development and decision-making, in business, in government and in public life. When that happens, policy better reflects the needs of the full community and outcomes are stronger for everyone. When it does not, there is a risk that the issues shaping the lives of Australian women and families are overlooked or deprioritised.
We note that in his first press conference as Opposition Leader, Mr Taylor indicated opposition to the universal provision of early childhood education and care. Universally accessible, affordable, high-quality early childhood education is one of the most powerful levers available to any government to support children's development, lift women's workforce participation, and strengthen long-term economic productivity. It is a reform that benefits families, businesses and the economy alike, and we would be concerned to see progress on this front stall.
CEW looks forward to engaging with Mr Taylor, Senator Hume and the new frontbench on this and on the broader agenda that will shape the lives of Australian women and strengthen our economy: strengthening women's leadership, improving women's economic security, ending violence against women, and placing care at the centre of the economy.
A more gender-equal Australia is a more productive and economically resilient one. CEW welcomes the opportunity to work constructively with the new Liberal leadership to advance that goal.
Media Contact:
Mayank Gurnani
E: mgurnani@cew.org.au | M: +61 414 463 827
About Chief Executive Women
Since 1985, Chief Executive Women (CEW) has influenced and engaged all levels of Australian business and government to remove the barriers to women's progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. CEW's 1,400 members represent Australia's most senior and distinguished leaders across the country's largest private and public organisations, collectively overseeing over 1.3 million employees and $749 billion in revenue.