Fronting the press pack at parliament house on Friday after losing the leadership, Ms Ley referenced her late mother's words: "When something ends in sadness, don't dwell on the disappointment. Be grateful that you had it at all."
Ms Ley was ousted by conservative Angus Taylor after nine months as the coalition's first female leader, losing the ballot 34 votes to 17.
"I leave it for others to judge this period of my leadership, now, and with the passing of time," she told reporters.
"While I'm sure plenty of people will have plenty to say, I've never sought to influence what other people think of me."
Having held the NSW seat of Farrer since 2001, a by-election will be needed after Ms Ley announced she will quit politics.
The coalition faces dire polling which shows One Nation leaping ahead as the second-most popular party after Labor.
Alarm bells are ringing within the National and Liberal parties over the concerning numbers, with a number of seats in regional NSW and Queensland at risk.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says her party will contest the by-election for Farrer, held by Ms Ley on a 6.2 per cent margin.
As Ms Ley attended to her ailing mother in the days following the coalition's disastrous loss at the 2025 federal election, Nationals leader David Littleproud broke up the partnership for the first time.
Despite mending the split a week later, fractures remained which culminated in a second, bitter coalition break-up in February.
Mr Littleproud declared no one in the Nationals could serve in a shadow cabinet under Ms Ley's leadership, sparking speculation she would soon be knifed.
Ms Ley said leading the Liberals after they suffered their worst defeat in 81 years had been tough.
"I'm not sure what comes next for me," she said.
"I look forward to stepping away completely and comprehensively from public life, to spend time with my family, to reconnect with my enduring passion, aviation, which taught me if I had an ego, I'd be dead.
"It's been quite useful in politics."
Ms Ley previously served as aged care and health minister in the Turnbull government, resigning from the latter portfolio after admitting using taxpayer funds to travel to the Gold Coast to buy a property.
She would later return to the front bench after the 2019 election as environment minister.
Ms Ley was appointed deputy Liberal leader under Peter Dutton in opposition after the 2022 election defeat.
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