Liberals re-examine gender quotas in slew of proposals to make party ‘fit-for-purpose political machine’

Key facts

• The Liberal Party is examining gender quotas as a potential measure to increase female representation in its parliamentary ranks.
• A new discussion paper from the Liberal Party Commission outlines options to address the party's aging membership and declining appeal to key demographics.
• The paper notes that only 33% of Liberal parliamentarians are women, with men outnumbering women four-to-one in the lower house.
• Six potential interventions are canvassed, including gender quotas, US-style open primaries, and bonus weighting for female candidates.
• The party acknowledges negative perceptions among multicultural communities and a lack of credibility with young voters on issues like climate action.
• Strategies to renew the membership base, such as a $10 annual membership for time-poor professionals and parents, are also considered.

The Liberal Party is undertaking a significant re-evaluation of its internal structures and electoral strategy, with gender quotas emerging as a key proposal to address underrepresentation of women. A discussion paper released by the Liberal Party Commission, established under former leader Sussan Ley, outlines a range of potential interventions aimed at revitalizing the party's aging membership and reconnecting with crucial voter demographics.

The paper candidly admits the party's struggles, noting a significant deficit in urban seats, a continuous loss of core demographics, and stretched campaign resources. Senator James McGrath, chair of the commission, highlighted the urgency of transforming the Liberal Party into a "fit-for-purpose political machine in the 21st century." A central concern is the parliamentary team's lack of representativeness, with women comprising only 33% of parliamentarians and men outnumbering them four-to-one in the lower house. The paper stresses that this imbalance must change urgently for the party's long-term survival.

To address these issues, the discussion paper canvasses six distinct options. These include mandatory gender quotas for winnable seats, US-style open primaries, a UK Conservative "A-list" approach, bonus weighting for female candidates, minimum numbers of women contesting preselection ballots, and state divisions setting female candidate targets. While the paper presents arguments for and against each, it refrains from making specific recommendations, acknowledging that any new measures will likely face internal resistance. The arguments against quotas center on the principle of merit-based selection, which is deemed contrary to Liberal values, while proponents point to the success of similar measures in the Labor Party.

Beyond gender representation, the discussion paper also tackles the party's challenges in winning back multicultural communities and younger voters. It suggests that negative perceptions within multicultural communities are deep-rooted, with some federal policies being misinterpreted as hostile. For younger voters, the party is seen as less credible on issues like climate action, with these perceptions now considered structural rather than a phase voters will grow out of. To counter the aging membership, with over 55% of members over 60, the paper proposes initiatives like $10 annual memberships targeted at busy professionals and parents, aiming to bridge the growing disconnect between internal party culture and the broader electorate.