Political strife ignites within the Liberal party, sparked by an eldest member's critique of women exhibiting increasing assertiveness.
Female Senior Politicians Slam Remarks on Assertive Women in the Liberal Party
A veteran Liberal Party member, Alan Stockdale, 80, has found himself in hot water for a comment about assertive women within the party, sparking a wave of criticism from senior female political leaders.
At a gathering of the NSW Liberal Women's Council on Tuesday, Stockdale, a former federal president known for his service as Treasurer of Victoria under Jeff Kennett's government, reportedly stated, "The women in this party are so assertive now that we may need some special rules for men to get them preselected."
According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, Stockdale later claimed his remark was a "lighthearted but poorly chosen" joke.
Reacting to the comment, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie and former Labor premier for Queensland, Anna Palaszczuk, teamed up to denounce Stockdale's remarks.
McKenzie expressed her dismay on Nine's Today show on Thursday, stating, "Alan, read the room. It was a shocking comment. I think it's time for Alan to head back to the Melbourne Club, have a stiff whisky, and chat with the old boys about what went wrong."
Palaszczuk, echoing the sentiment, said, "You've finally got one step forward for the Liberal Party with Sussan Ley being elected (as federal leader), and it's three steps backwards with these comments."
Palaszczuk continued, expressing her disbelief, "The Liberal Party needs a good hard look at themselves, especially the men."
The fallout comes as the Liberal Party faces criticism for its stance on women's issues, particularly its policy requiring Commonwealth public servants to return to office work during the federal election campaign. Critics argue this alienated women voters, many of whom use working from home as a means to balance job responsibilities with childcare and other duties.
Deputy Opposition leader Ted O'Brien has been quick to distance the party from Stockdale's remarks, expressing a welcome to assertive women in the Liberal Party. "To any of the assertive women out there, the Liberal Party is your party," O'Brien stated on ABC's News Breakfast. "We need more women engaging with our party, running for our party. I'm proud to have Sussan Ley as our leader."
The controversy reignites discussions about gender representation within the Liberal Party. While Stockdale's efforts to frame his comment as a joke did not appease the critics, the broader debate highlights the need for the party to seriously engage with issues related to gender equality.
- The current controversy surrounding the Liberal Party involves their policy on work-from-home arrangements for women, a move that critics argue alienates women voters.
- Amid this debate, the news of female senior politicians on war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, such as Bridget McKenzie and Anna Palaszczuk, speaking out against sexist comments made by a veteran party member has gained significant health-and-wellness and women's health attention.
- The criticism from these senior female political leaders, including Anna Palaszczuk's suggestion for the Liberal Party to focus on addressing gender equality issues, emphasizes the importance of science, a sector that has historically faced gender disparities, in shaping policies that cater to the needs of diverse populations.
- On the other hand, the Mainstream Liberal Party member, Alan Stockdale, who made the controversial comment about assertive women, has been criticized for his stance, with Deputy Opposition leader Ted O'Brien advocating for assertive women in the party, promoting a positive and inclusive atmosphere for travel, indicating a broader trend in accepting strong and assertive females in various sectors of general-news society.
