Opposition leader Sussan Ley History written in May to become the first woman to lead the liberal party. In her first big address since she took over the helm, she opened the door to genderquota within the liberal party-Ise with long-term taboo. She also expressed the ‘f’ word.
No, not the expletive of Donald Trump of your choice. Feminist.
It is a self -identifyer who used them before, breaking down other senior liberal women such as Julie Bishop and Michaelia Cash, who turned the word Baul. But as a leader, the label will send a certain signal to Australian women and set the tone for Ley’s approach in the future.
Asked if it was a term she still used to describe herself at the ABC’s RN breakfast on Thursday, Ley did not answer immediately, instead said: “I am someone who proudly stands up for women every day.”
A day later, speaking with the podcast of the Nine Network’s Inside Politics, Ley said she still identified herself as a feminist.
‘Well, yes, I would do that [call myself a feminist] … I am very happy, “she said.
“In 2001 when I entered parliament, more women voted in Australia for it [the Liberal Party] Then for someone else.
“Since then that number has decreased, so I am so determined and so hold on that we solve the problem of this women.”
To introduce quotas, or not?
Ley used the National Press Club address on Wednesday to open the door to genderquota as a way to remedy the fuel support of the liberal party with female voters.
Although it remained “agnostic” about how the party would achieve better representation, Ley said she was “a zealer that it actually happens”.
“I am the first woman in my position and I do not believe that someone in my position has had the determination that I now have here, at the moment. Note this space,” she said.
Since then, the suggestion of quota has been quickly rejected by senior liberal men, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbot and leadership rival Angus Taylor.
“At the end of the day, if you have quotas, it means that you will undermine democratic processes,” Taylor said.
Although there were not enough women in the liberal party – only six in the House of Representatives – Taylor suggested a good mentoring and better recruitment processes could solve that problem.
The political necessity to do this is a matter of life or death.
With only 43 seats in the Lower House, the coalition is in the abyss of election bound.
On the other hand, the Labor Party, which introduced genderquota in 1994 and has 56% female representation in his Caucus, has 94 seats in the House of Representatives.
Senior Labor Minister Tanya Plibersek opposed Taylor’s comments as ‘proof’ that the liberal party had not learned her lesson.
“I find it incredible that the guys in the Liberal Party Sussan Ley have not even given two months in leadership without starting her,” she said.
Feminist ‘means different things’
SBS asked more than a dozen liberal party front benchers if they support or identify the idea of quotas as feminists.
Angus Taylor said: “Well, you know, many people like to define [feminism] In many different ways, so I will leave them for the time being. ‘
“I have two beautiful, beautiful daughters who are capable, strong and talented. I will always defend talented and capable women, and I have always done that.”
In the meantime, spokesperson for the opposition for women Melissa McINTOSH supported her leader by saying that quotas should be considered – but taking a “yes or no” position “would be too simplistic”.
“There are many mechanisms that must be considered, including mentorship, paths and quotas and goals as part of the [election] Review, “said Mcintosh.
“The assessment must first and foremost, when it comes to women, look at the culture of the liberal party because you could have all the quotas in the world, but that will make no difference if the cultural problems are not solved.”
Moderate liberal senator Andrew Bragg said, “Look, I am open to everything that works.”
Charlotte Mortlock, who has founded the Grassroots organization of the Hilma party to empower ‘Liberal-Minded Women’, has spoken out to support quota and criticized both Abbott and Taylor.
“Until we see something drawing in the [Liberal Party’s] Constitution, I and many women, are not confident that the old guard of the party actually has the intention to change, “said Mortlock.
“If there were alternatives to quotas, why would they not have been rolled after the last [election] tasteless [in 2022]? “
“Also ‘feministic’ means that you believe in equal opportunities for men and women … There is no shame in the word. I am a proud feminist.”
Spokesperson for the opposition for Health Anne Ruston, who rejected quota in 2021, has moved her position and explains: “We can no longer exclude the temporary use of quota as an option, since we have not reached our goals in other ways to date.”
NSW senator Maria Kovacic has also supported the idea of genderquota in the short term.
While the Liberal Party Room first met on Friday afternoon to dissect the election results of May, Ley told her colleagues: “My leadership will include, consultative and collaboration”.
As the opposition starts with the development of the policy it will take for the next elections, including whether it is just to support Zero, the question of attracting more women in the ranks of the party will be one of the most complex challenges that the Liberal Party of 2025 has to navigate.
#Sussan #Ley #feminist #dirty #word #liberal #party