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Full Story Does the Liberal party need to change its values to survive?
Jul 1, 2025
Tom McIlroy, Chief Political Correspondent at Guardian Australia, dives into the pressing need for the Liberal Party to reshape its values to revive its fortunes. He discusses Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's challenges, particularly the party's struggle with female representation. The conversation highlights the debate around gender quotas and the contrasting strategies of the Labor Party. McIlroy emphasizes that evolving societal expectations may demand a fundamental reassessment of the party's core values to regain voter trust.
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Women Voter Losses Key Factor
- The loss of women voters significantly contributed to the Liberal Party's recent electoral defeat.
- Leadership and policies perceived as anti-women or anti-family caused women to leave the party.
Merit Argument and Quotas Clash
- The merit argument used against quotas is compelling but ignores systemic barriers against women.
- Labor's quota system proves that gender quotas can increase representation and improve caucus quality.
Values Shape Quota Debate
- Values are central in the debate over gender quotas in the Liberal Party.
- Conservatives stress merit and individual effort, while moderates appeal to founder Menzies' vision of equal representation.