Embattled Federal MP Sussan Ley has broken her silence after she fell on her sword over an expenses scandal earlier this year, saying the past few weeks had been an “emotional” time.
The former Health Minister addressed the scandal that saw her sacrifice her portfolios while launching NBN fixed line services in her Farrer electorate.
Ms Ley put aside suggestions her political career is over saying “without a doubt” she would run again for the seat of Farrer.
“It is politics and at some level I understand the game I am in,” she said.
“I still have in my heart all the reasons I went into politics, which is to represent local people.”
Throughout the public scrutiny into her use of taxpayer funded entitlements Ms Ley maintained she had not broken any rules, however her pleas of innocence mattered little to those online many of who were vicious in their response.
The besieged MP remained brave in the face of the backlash.
“Social media was actually pretty nasty to me when I was the Health Minister,” she said.
“It’s a feature of life in the 21st century, in politics.
“A lot of people who say things online are the people who aren’t prepared to say things to your face.”
Ms Ley said sitting on the frontbench, while an immense privilege, amounted to an “extra job” and said a huge upside to her resignation was the additional time she would have for Farrer.
Ms Ley said she was looking forward to “travelling lots of miles” to cover her huge electorate, and having more time to listen to the needs of the people.
One of the first items on her agenda is to confront the complex issues facing the Murray Darling Basin.
“I am getting into the detail of water like I never have before and I love that.
“My electorate now has nearly all of the irrigated agriculture in Australia...and I have always said when our boundaries changed that we would be defined by water.
“I now have an opportunity to spend even more time pushing the needs of the farmers I represent and the small businesses.”
This story first appeared in The Area News.
