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3mo ago

Liberals rebuke Stockdale’s call to ‘protect men’ after ‘assertive women’ remark

The backlash highlights the party’s struggle with female representation ahead of a federal executive decision on extending the NSW administrators’ term on June 17.

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Alan Stockdale in 2015 (Image: AAP/Julian Smith)
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Senator Bridget McKenzie during her appearance at the Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants at Parliament House on February 12, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. The inquiry into the Federal Government's $100 million Community Sports Infrastructure Grant program is investigating whether funds granted through the scheme were fairly distributed, following allegations funding was focused on marginal and target seats in the lead up to the 2019 federal election. Senator Bridget McKenzie was Sports Minister at the time. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Former federal president Alan Stockdale told the NSW Liberal Women’s Council that women were “sufficiently assertive” and mooted reverse quotas to safeguard men’s involvement.
  • Stockdale apologised for the “light-hearted but poorly chosen” quip and said he regretted any disrespect caused.
  • Opposition leader Sussan Ley and NSW counterpart Mark Speakman publicly dismissed the notion, inviting assertive women to join and noting near-equal female representation in NSW ranks.
  • Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelled the comment “shocking” and urged the party to re-evaluate its approach to gender equality.
  • The federal executive will convene on June 17 to decide whether to extend the June 30 mandate of Stockdale and his co-administrators Richard Alston and Peta Seaton.