Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has spoken about her final moments with her mother, who died yesterday after seeing Ley become the first woman to ever lead the federal Liberal Party.

Ley’s mother, Angela Braybrooks, died in an aged care facility in Albury, in southern NSW.

The newly-anointed opposition leader went straight to the facility after she was elected by the party room last Tuesday.

“I held her hand, I talked to her about life and things we’ve been through together, and I hope she hears.

“It’s a good opportunity to reflect on all things that she did in her life, because my mum was a bit of a trailblazer.”

The interview followed a statement Ley released yesterday.

“My family and I feel this loss deeply,” Ley said in the statement.

“Mum was a mental health nurse who helped so many people through her life. 

“She taught me the values of resilience, self-reliance and persistence.

“Growing up in wartime Britain, Angela could never have dreamed that her daughter would become Australia’s first female Leader of the Opposition, but because of her, that happened this week.”

Ley said she had taken inspiration from her every single day of her life.

In the wide-ranging interview with News Corp, Ley also addressed the Liberal Party’s “woman problem”.

“We have gradually seen a loss in support from women, and have to accept that, and I accept that with humility,” she said.

“But it also drives me to turn the corner and rebuild.”

She said it was evident at the polling booth that many women lining up to vote weren’t supporting the Liberals.

“I realised in those moments we have to do much better.”

But she wouldn’t be drawn on policy specifics, saying there’d be no “captain’s calls” under her leadership, but a thorough process involving all voices in the party room.

She said her mother remained an inspiration in her career.

“I always had this model growing up of a mum that was busy and that worked,” she said.

“For me, that was important when I found myself so busy with my girls and my boy, and always felt guilty, you know as mums tend to, because I’m not there enough and I can’t get it right, can’t balance it all.”

“It was a gift of fate that I was able to share Mother’s Day with my mum one last time on Sunday,” Ley said yesterday.

“On Monday night in Canberra, our parish priest organised a FaceTime call, telling Angela she had to ‘hang on’ to see one more special moment in her daughter’s life. If she could do that, he promised her, ‘we’ll have champagne tomorrow’. 

“On Tuesday, hours after I was afforded the enormous privilege by my Liberal colleagues of leading our party, I drove back down the Hume Highway to be at her bedside. 

“Whilst mum was no longer verbal, she watched every moment of my press conference. As I walked back into her room that afternoon, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was a moment I will treasure forever.”

Ley thanked everyone who had given their condolences for the loss, and also thanked the staff at the Riverwood Aged Care Facility, where her mother died.