Overview

• NSW Liberal Women’s Council advanced the motion at its early July meeting as the party prepares to enter parliament with just six female MPs.
• Moderates led by Senator Maria Kovacic back time-limited quotas featuring sunset clauses, review triggers and structural reforms to rebuild candidate pipelines over two election cycles.
• Senior conservatives including Angus Taylor and Tony Abbott reject binding quotas and argue for merit-based preselections supported by expanded mentorship programs.
• Any quota rule change must secure at least 60% support in the NSW state council under existing party rules, presenting a major procedural hurdle.
• Federal leader Sussan Ley has called for urgent reform to increase women’s representation but has not publicly endorsed compulsory quotas.