Key facts
- Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor has stated he does not support gender quotas.
- Deputy Jane Hume indicated that all options presented in a discussion paper will be considered.
- Shadow cabinet minister Anne Ruston urged the party to act with "urgency" on proposed reforms.
- The discussion paper aimed to refresh membership, engage diverse communities, and improve internal structures.
- Some party members questioned the relevance and impact of the review.
Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor has expressed opposition to gender quotas, despite a discussion paper circulating within the party that canvassed the idea. Taylor stated he has never supported quotas but favors attracting more people from diverse backgrounds.
However, his deputy, Jane Hume, quickly intervened to state that the paper is a draft and "all of the options that are put out there" will be considered. Shadow cabinet minister Anne Ruston further emphasized the need for the party to act with "urgency" on proposed reforms, suggesting that previous measures have not worked given the low number of female representatives in the House of Representatives.
Ruston told Guardian Australia that listening is not enough and the party needs to act on what it is hearing. She also commented that if a discussion paper is released, "everything should be on the table."
Some members of the Liberal Party have downplayed the significance of the review, commissioned by former leader Sussan Ley and led by Senator James McGrath. Former MPs Nick Minchin and Pru Goward had previously authored a post-election review. Several Liberals questioned the necessity of another review, with one MP deeming it "irrelevant" and another predicting it would not lead to policy changes.
Former Liberal MP Jason Falinski suggested that the review should also consider ideas for engaging young men, referencing Ron DeSantis's approach in the Republican party as an example of appealing to younger male voters through a focus on merit and competency.