Sussan Ley was born in Nigeria and spent her early childhood in the Middle East before migrating with her family to Australia when she was thirteen years old. She was educated in England and Australia, and her tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics, Masters of Taxation Law and a Masters of Accounting. She also holds a commercial
pilot’s licence.
Sussan’s career has been varied, working as an Air Traffic Controller at metropolitan airports, an aerial stock mustering pilot in outback New South Wales and Queensland, a wool and beef farmer and a Director of Technical Training with the Australian Taxation Office.
As a newcomer to Australia when she was a teenager, Sussan saw this country as a bright happy place, full of opportunity. She is passionate about the lifestyles and landscapes of western NSW and she works hard for the future of rural and regional communities.
Sussan was first elected to the seat of Farrer in the 2001 election. She was returned in October 2004 and subsequently promoted to the position of Parliamentary Secretary (Children and Youth Affairs). Sussan changed portfolios in 2006 when she was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
In November 2007, Sussan was returned as the member for Farrer and appointed Shadow Minister for Housing and the Status of Women. In September 2008 Sussan was appointed the Shadow Minister for Customs and Justice, where her role included support in the maintenance and improvement of Australia’s system of law and justice, its national security and emergency management systems. December 2009 brought another change of portfolio as Sussan was appointed Shadow Assistant Treasurer. She is able to apply her formal economic knowledge to work in the best interests of her constituents in rural and regional Australia.
Sussan is now the Shadow Minister for Employment Participation and the Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Childhood Learning.
Sussan lives in Albury with her 3 children. The main issues facing Sussan’s constituents - she believes - are the future of farming, particularly irrigated agriculture, drought support and the ongoing challenges of the ‘city country divide’.