Henderson says 'high-performing Liberal women' were overlooked for shadow cabinet
Senator Henderson, who was the shadow education minister under Peter Dutton, was left out of Ms Ley's frontbench reveal on Wednesday, as was Jane Hume, a high-profile senator who was relegated from the finance portfolio to the backbench.
Claire Chandler, previously in government services, was also left off the list, while Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was moved out of cabinet and to the outer shadow ministry in the defence industry portfolio.
Senator Henderson said she was "disappointed" to be removed from shadow cabinet, adding: "I regret that a number of high-performing Liberal women have been overlooked or demoted in the new ministry."
"Today, I am more determined than ever to fight for Australian women, which must start with a comprehensive policy platform."
Senator Price, speaking to Sky News on Wednesday night, said she too was "disappointed" to be left out of cabinet, after she made the shock move from the Nationals to the Liberal party room for a tilt at the party's deputy leadership.
"There are probably some appointments that have not been predicated on experience or merit, but this is the team we have to work with going forward," she said.
"I'm not going to lie and say I'm not disappointed that I'm not within cabinet itself.
"But I did say when I decided to move to the Liberal party room that as part of the Coalition we needed to build and that I would be taking whatever position I am in very seriously."
At a media conference on Wednesday, Ms Ley dismissed the notion that conservative women had been targeted in the reshuffle.
"This is a new parliament with new people being elected and a new agenda moving forward," she said.
"I am thrilled that I have so many terrific colleagues. And those that, as I said earlier, are not on this list are certainly incredibly valued and will continue to play that very, very important role that all of us must in opposition."
Meanwhile, other women who were part of Mr Dutton's shadow ministry found themselves promoted to more senior positions under Ms Ley.
They include Kerrynne Liddle, who will move into the social services portfolio, Melissa McIntosh, now tasked with communications, and Michaelia Cash, who takes on foreign affairs.
Several women were also promoted into assistant roles, including Melissa Price in science, Zoe McKenzie in education and mental health, Leah Blyth in families, and Maria Kovacic in family violence prevention.
Gisele Kapterian will hold an assistant role in the communications portfolio if she is elected to the seat of Bradfield.
Under Mr Dutton, who was ousted from parliament at the recent election, women made up half of cabinet positions.
That has dropped to about a third in the new arrangement — which is in line with the percentage of women in the broader Coalition party room — with eight of the 23 cabinet positions going to women.
Asked specifically about the removal of Ms Hume from the ministry, Ms Ley said reshuffles were always "tough days".
"I recognise that, but what I do want to say about Jane Hume is she is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team who has contributed amazingly over her political career, will continue to do so, and is a strong performer across a range of different subject areas."
Shortly after becoming the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in its 81-year history, Ms Ley declared that "we need more women in our party" and vowed to look at ways to make it a reality.
A record-breaking number of women were elected to Australia's parliament at this month's federal election, with the majority coming from Labor's ranks in the House of Representatives.
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