Liberal Women Express Alarm Over Leadership Spill and Gender Representation
In the wake of the Liberal party's leadership spill on Friday, which saw Sussan Ley ousted as the party's first female leader, prominent Liberal figure Charlotte Mortlock has announced her resignation from the party. This move comes as female members voice deep concerns about a potential voter backlash and the party's direction on gender issues.
Mortlock's Departure and Hilma's Network
Mortlock, a former Coalition staffer to Andrew Bragg, revealed on Sunday that she is stepping down as executive director of Hilma's Network, a grassroots group she founded to unite "Liberal-minded women." She has also relinquished her Liberal party membership, citing recent events as a catalyst for seeking alternative ways to support women and Australia. Mortlock has been a vocal advocate for progressive stances on the climate crisis and gender quotas, pushing for 50% female representation in the party.
She expressed pride in Hilma's Network's efforts to support women through preselections and elections, hosting events that challenged the party to evolve. Mortlock was part of a group that proposed a gender quota to the New South Wales Liberal executive, aiming to reserve 40% of federal seats for women-only preselections. However, Liberal sources indicate this proposal has been removed from the agenda for the state council meeting on 7 March.
Internal Concerns and Anonymous Voices
One anonymous Liberal woman told Guardian Australia, "The boys are back in charge," highlighting worries about the party's failure to address key issues from the 2022 election, such as women, the environment, and integrity. She added, "I'm incredibly worried ... here we are in 2026, and so far we've blown up net zero and now we think it's a really good idea to blow up the first female leader of the party."
Another female member, also speaking anonymously, noted that the "feminist faction are pretty down in the dumps," suggesting that while Ley made mistakes, she was not afforded much grace. This member observed that female voters had already disengaged in 2022, but there was some receptiveness to Ley when she was elected.
Political Reactions and Future Outlook
Former Liberal cabinet minister Karen Andrews warned of possible public backlash, stating that female supporters might feel Ley did not get a fair chance at leadership. Andrews agreed with new leader Angus Taylor's backers that Ley had sufficient time to prove herself but remains hopeful that deputy leader Jane Hume, co-author of the 2022 election review, will address the party's issues with female voters.
The 2022 review, co-authored by Hume, found the party had not adequately addressed female voters' concerns and recommended a 50% target for female candidates and MPs, rather than a binding quota. With Ley's departure, only five of the 27 MPs in the Liberal party room are women, while in the Senate, 11 of 23 Liberal senators are female.
Hume's Response and Party's Path Forward
In response to Mortlock's resignation, Hume described it as "a really sad moment," acknowledging Mortlock's contributions as a voice for women with Liberal values. Speaking on the ABC Insiders program, Hume emphasized the need to demonstrate to Australian women that the Liberal party is a place for them, highlighting opportunities for women's voices within the party.
As the Liberal party navigates this transition, the focus remains on how it will address gender representation and voter concerns, with female members urging action to rebuild trust and inclusivity.
