Latest news with #womenInPolitics
News.com.au
an hour ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Crusty old codger': Bridget McKenzie and Annastacia Palaszczuk slam senior Alan Stockdale's comments on women
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have hit back at the 'out of touch' comments by a senior Liberal Party member regarding women's involvement in the party. The pair responded to the remarks of former party president Alan Stockdale, joined by former senator Richard Alston, who told the NSW Liberal Women's Council that 'women are sufficiently assertive now' and 'that we should be giving some thought to whether we need to protect men's involvement'. It's understood Mr Stockdale also mentioned in the meeting that 'reverse quotas' would be needed for men, The Daily Telegraph reported. When asked about the remarks by Today's Karl Stefanovic, Senator McKenzie said it was simply 'shocking'. 'I hope women are assertive, as they represent their communities, they fight for the future of their countries, and I think Anastasia and I'll be on a unity ticket on this,' Senator McKenzie said on Thursday morning. 'It was in my Senate room where 80 per cent of the senators are women, and they were all in shadow cabinet, and the guys weren't. 'I think it's time for Alan to head back to the Melbourne club … and chat with the old boys about what went wrong.' Stefanovic asked Ms Palaszczuk whether there should instead be a quota on 'crusty old codgers', adding 'if your eyebrows have elbows, then is it time to be euthanised from the party?' The former Queensland premier said she couldn't believe what had been said. 'I can't believe this. I mean, you finally got one step forward for the Liberal Party with Sussan Ley being elected, and it's three steps backwards with these comments,' she added. 'These are not appropriate in this day and age. 'Honestly, the Liberal Party needs a good, hard look at themselves and especially the men. 'I mean, there are good women coming through all different political parties, and this guy is out of touch – and there's no room for this in today's modern society.' The Liberals' disastrous 2025 federal election campaign pointed to the party's continuing problems with women. Redbridge polling showed just 32 per cent of female voters in key outer suburban and regional electorates would vote for the Coalition, while a 2022 Liberal election review found that the majority of women preferred Labor in all age segments. Support for the Liberals was the weakest among women aged 18-34.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Read excerpts from Margaret Chase Smith's Declaration of Conscience speech
Jun. 1—Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, R-Maine, delivered her famous Declaration of Conscience speech on June 1, 1950, on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Here are some excerpts: ------ Mr. President, I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership either in the legislative branch or the executive branch of our government. ... I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be taken to heart. Mr. President, I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American. ... I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some real soul searching and to weigh our consciences as to the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America and the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges. I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation. ... As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that the Republican Party faces a challenge today that is not unlike the challenge which it faced back in Lincoln's day. The Republican Party so successfully met that challenge that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a united nation — in addition to being a party which unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs. Today our country is being psychologically divided by the confusion and the suspicions that are bred in the United States Senate to spread like cancerous tentacles of "know nothing, suspect everything" attitudes. ... The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I do not want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny: Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear. ... Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism: — The right to criticize. — The right to hold unpopular beliefs. — The right to protest. — The right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us does not? Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in. ... Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Excerpts from Margaret Chase Smith's Declaration of Conscience speech
Jun. 1—Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, R-Maine, delivered her famous Declaration of Conscience speech on June 1, 1950, on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Here are some excerpts: Mr. President, I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership either in the legislative branch or the executive branch of our government.... I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be taken to heart. Mr. President, I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American.... I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some real soul searching and to weigh our consciences as to the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America and the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges. I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation.... As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that the Republican party faces a challenge today that is not unlike the challenge which it faced back in Lincoln's day. The Republican party so successfully met that challenge that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a united nation — in addition to being a party which unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs. Today our country is being psychologically divided by the confusion and the suspicions that are bred in the United States Senate to spread like cancerous tentacles of "know nothing, suspect everything" attitudes.... The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny: Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.... Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism: — The right to criticize. — The right to hold unpopular beliefs. — The right to protest. — The right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us does not? Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in.... Copy the Story Link
ABC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Henderson says 'high-performing Liberal women' were overlooked for shadow cabinet
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said she is disappointed that "a number of high-performing" women were overlooked or demoted in the opposition's new ministry, weeks after Sussan Ley became the first woman to lead the Liberal Party. 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.
Washington Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
For these liberal women, the future of Democratic politics is still female
There were two kinds of women waiting in line outside of the Anthem theater for the 40th anniversary celebration of Emily's List, the organization dedicated to electing Democratic women who support abortion rights: Those who'd arrived straight from work, and those who'd had time to change. The former showed up in variations of the liberal working woman's uniform: black pants, oversize blazers and comfortable closed-toe shoes, all in neutral shades. The latter arrived in the vestments of girlboss-meets-girlhood: Barbie-pink power suits and flouncy floral dresses.
