Liberal Women Push Back After Party Elder's Remark
As the Liberal Party's treatment of women comes under scrutiny, it has been advised not to let "out-of-touch" men define its destiny.
Former federal Liberal president Alan Stockdale sparked a political firestorm when he told a group of female executives that Liberal women had become "so assertive" that the party might need to reconsider supporting men.
As the Liberals prepare for an electoral defeat fueled in part by a decrease in women's support, female coalition members banded together to condemn Mr Stockdale.
Charlotte Mortlock, co-founder of Hilma's Network, which helps women in the Liberal Party, has issued a call to action.
"Out-of-touch men continue to tarnish the party's reputation ... we can't keep allowing a disconnected membership to determine the future of the party," she told the news outlet AAP.
"No one will vote for female politicians who are not forceful in parliament.
"They don't want wallflowers in Canberra; they want intelligent, assertive women who are going to contribute to our democracy to improve our country."
Mr Stockdale, who was treasurer under former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, made the remarks during the NSW Liberal Women's Council meeting on Tuesday night, according to a source.
The group was discussing the necessity for gender quotas when the 80-year-old suggested something to the effect that because the women in the party were so aggressive, special regulations might be required for men to be preselected.
He then admitted to the Daily Telegraph that he had made "a lighthearted but poorly chosen remark".
Sussan Ley, the federal coalition's first female leader, and her deputy, Ted O'Brien, responded to the statements.
"There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman; I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," Mrs Ley stated in a press release.
"The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks."
The party has attempted to solve its "women's issue" quietly, but Ms Mortlock claims this has not been effective.
Gender quotas for women were "long overdue," and she asked the party to revise its constitution and pre-selection procedures.
"We need to do the reform internally and to be vocal and outspoken when things like this happen so we can prove to women that we aren't going into parliament to be apologists for men's bad behaviour," says Ms Mortlock.
The Liberals have long been criticized for putting female politicians in unwinnable situations, and their recent programs have failed to persuade female voters.
This was made evident in May, when the party suffered its worst-ever federal election loss, following a campaign that included the unveiling of a policy requiring public employees to quit working from home.
That was blamed for alienating female voters, many of whom use the arrangement to combine work, childcare, and other responsibilities.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie advised Mr Stockdale to "read the room," and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the party had lost its course.
The NSW Liberals, in particular, have been in upheaval since failing to nominate more than 140 candidates for the statewide local government elections in September.
The federal Liberals seized over and chose three people, including Mr Stockdale and another Victorian, to handle the party's state operations.
Mr Albanese said that this triumvirate was appointed as a result of former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the extreme right faction's intention to remove the party's historically moderate leadership.
During question time in NSW parliament, Labor Premier Chris Minns stated that the shadow ministry, which consisted of 10 women and 16 males, was "like a men's shed".
"They're going to have to install urinals," he told me.