Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has stared down conservative agitators within the Coalition, championing the Liberal Party’s history of supporting migrants and a broad-church approach to different strands of conservatism, as she urged her MPs to represent all “modern Australians”.

In a statement celebrating the 81st anniversary of the party on Thursday, Ley blamed losses at the last two elections on a departure from traditional Liberal values, saying the party must hold to its core beliefs as her internal rivals stake out an alternative nationalist vision.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley with her colleagues this week in Melbourne, where she discussed law and order. Credit: Eamon Gallagher

“Five months ago, our party suffered its worst defeat in our 81-year history,” Ley said. “We didn’t l

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