Senior Liberal Party figures moved quickly to distance themselves from remarks made by Alan Stockdale. Stockdale, the interim head of the NSW division, suggested women were “sufficiently assertive” and hinted the party might need to “protect men’s involvement.” He made these comments during a discussion about female representation and gender quotas at the NSW Liberal Women’s Council meeting on Tuesday.
Stockdale, former Victorian treasurer and external administrator brought in to manage the troubled NSW division, said, “I think women are sufficiently assertive now that we should be giving some thought to whether we need to protect men’s involvement.”
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley Condemns Comments
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, the first female leader of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party, rejected Stockdale’s remarks. Ley stated, “There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party.” She said the party must “reflect, respect and represent modern Australia” and recognise the “strength, merit and leadership” of women in the party.
NSW Liberal Women’s Council Responds
Jacqui Munro, NSW Upper House MP and former president of the NSW Liberal Women’s Council, said Stockdale’s comments were “deeply unhelpful.” She expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s pretty disappointing and not very funny, if he was trying to make a joke.” Munro added the remarks were “bizarre” and called for party leaders to focus on delivering for the people they want to support, particularly women.
NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman Backs Female Representation
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman also distanced himself from Stockdale’s remarks during an interview on 702 ABC Radio Sydney. Speakman said, “I want more assertive women, not fewer assertive women in the Liberal party.” He pointed out that 45 per cent of the NSW Liberal frontbench and party room are female. He stressed the importance of the party reflecting the demographic range in NSW, particularly on gender, and highlighted recent progress in female representation.
Mark Speakman
Broader Reaction Within the Party
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie joined criticism of Stockdale, urging him to “read the room.” She said, “I hope women are assertive as they represent their communities and fight for the future of their countries.” McKenzie called the comment “shocking” and suggested Stockdale should “head back to the Melbourne club, have a stiff whisky and chat with the old boys about what went wrong.”
Stockdale later described his remark as “a lighthearted but poorly chosen remark” in an interview with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Weighs In
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded on Thursday, saying the Liberal Party must “have a good look at themselves and their structures.” Albanese highlighted the contrast with Labor, which has worked towards gender equality for decades and introduced quotas in 1994.
Following the 2025 federal election, Labor women outnumber men in the House of Representatives for the first time. This milestone reflects Labor’s ongoing commitment to gender balance in politics.
Gender Representation and Election Results
The Liberal Party suffered one of its worst defeats in history at the May 3 federal election, winning only six federal seats in NSW. The Coalition elected 10 women MPs — eight from the Liberal Party and two from the Nationals — out of 42 seats in the lower house. This was only one more than the number elected in the 2022 federal election.
The Liberals have faced longstanding criticism for their approach to female representation. Female candidates often receive unwinnable seats, and the party continues to lose support from female voters. Stockdale’s suggestion of reverse gender quotas to “protect men’s involvement” followed this historic loss.
Sussan Ley Calls for More Assertive Women
Ley reiterated the need for the party to embrace assertive women. She said, “The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks.”
This call follows Ley’s earlier admission that the party failed to engage with women voters during the election campaign.
Summary
Senior Liberal figures, including Ley, Speakman, Munro and McKenzie, publicly rejected Stockdale’s comments. They emphasised the party’s need to improve female representation and align with modern Australia. The party continues to face challenges rebuilding after the 2025 federal election, with female representation and voter engagement among key issues.
The reaction highlights internal debate over gender dynamics within the Liberal Party amid broader political shifts towards gender equality in Australian politics.
