The Liberal Party's woman problem
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FEDERAL OPPOSITION
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley fronted the Press Club this week and gave a voluble speech about her plans to investigate the failures of the Liberal Party.
She declared herself open to whatever means necessary to rescue it, including the possibility of introducing quotas to raise the representation of women in the party.
Yesterday morning, Angus Taylor was on the media circuit pushing his belief that quotas are anti-democratic and should not be used by his party. Angus Taylor is the shadow defence minister and is not in a position to dictate party policy.
A statement such as 'we have a new leader and I will support her in her efforts to rebuild the party' would have been far more appropriate. It's no wonder women watch this type of thing play out and have no interest in being involved.
Jan Downing, Hawthorn East
Angus Taylor is out of time
So, Angus Taylor rejects the notion of quotas for Liberal women and also thinks that we should follow the directive from Donald Trump and spend more on defence.
Didn't Taylor take note of the results at the last election?
The Liberal Party and its putative values are just not chiming with the majority of Australians. The country has moved on from the Howard era, and Angus Taylor should too.
Alan Whittaker, East Kew
Dinosaurs doom party to irrelevance
Angus Taylor believes that pre-selection quotas to attract and endorse more women for the federal Liberal Party will 'subvert the democratic process' that he assures us he holds dear.
It is undeniable that the Liberal Party numbers in federal parliament do not represent the gender make-up of our national population.
Equally, the Liberals seem relatively unconcerned with this situation and do not perceive any urgency to address the imbalance despite their regular 'reviews' and 'post-election analyses'.
The continued lack of a proven strategy (together with effective policies) to demonstrate that the party is in-touch with the electorate is a guarantee of ongoing irrelevance.
The Liberal Party woes are not assisted by 'dinosaurs' like Angus Taylor and others.
Mark Bennett, Manifold Heights
Not now, not ever
In responding to Tony Abbott's opposition to gender quotas, (26/6), Sussan Ley could well adapt Julia Gillard's famous mysogyny speech: 'I say to the former prime minister, I will not be lectured about gender quotas by this man. I will not. Not now, not ever'.
Harry Zable, Campbells Creek
THE FORUM
Political extremes
Re Gabriel Shipton's article ″What happened to my brother, Julian Assange, once felt extraordinary. Today it feels like the norm″ (27/6). Assange helped make Donald Trump, a man who has not the slightest interest in accountability, president of the US because of Assange's selective leaks during the 2016 election campaign.
Now, his brother is whinging about Trump assaulting the free press. This is a perfect example of the hypocrisy and interconnectedness of both political extremes.
Brett Byrne, Melbourne
Silence not an option
Gabriel Shipton's piece is a warning that should be heeded by all. Being punished for telling the truth or exposing crimes – whether a Palestinian journalist or an Australian white collar worker – is not something that happens in a democratic and humane society. Our silence is not an option, or we will be silenced permanently.
Anastasios Moralis, Ormond
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