Taylor Says Gender Quotas ‘Subvert Democracy’ Amid Push for More Women

Sussan Ley says she’s open to all options to boost female representation in the Liberal Party.

Shadow Minister Angus Taylor at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 17, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

A day after Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she was open to ideas to increase the number of women in the Liberal Party, Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor has distanced himself from gender quotas.

While Ley described herself as a “zealot” for boosting female participation in politics, she maintained a neutral stance on the specific mechanisms to achieve it. Taylor, however, ruled out quotas altogether.

“I don’t believe quotas are needed to deliver the outcome we’re aiming for,” Taylor told Sky News. “What’s essential is attracting, mentoring and retaining talented individuals, especially women. That’s a task for all party leaders—and I take that responsibility seriously.”

Taylor continued pushing his stance the next day on June 27, saying hard quotas “subvert the democratic” process.

“You know what, the Labor party will do things their own way, and they do subvert democracy, and that’s a matter for them,” he told ABC Radio National.

“At the end of the day, if you’re going to have quotas, it means you are going to subvert democratic processes.

“I’ve long been a crusader on this, as I have long been a crusader on attracting and retaining and mentoring talented people, including, of course, women in our party.”

Coalition struggles to win back women

The Liberal Party has attracted criticism for having less than 30 percent of its federal MPs and senators being women. In contrast, Labor’s long-standing quota system, introduced over three decades ago, now sees women occupy half of the federal caucus.

Ley, who narrowly defeated Taylor in the post-election Liberal leadership contest, has been vocal about the need to reform the party’s culture.

She blamed internal resistance and structural limitations for the party’s struggles to engage female voters.

“As the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party, I want to send the strongest possible message: we must improve how we recruit, retain and support women,” Ley said. However, she acknowledged the limits of her power under the party’s federated structure, where state branches maintain control over preselection rules.

While Ley has not endorsed one specific approach, she has floated the idea of gender quotas or an equivalent strategy, aimed at winning over female voters.

Taylor Seeks Briefing on US Military Role

Taylor also criticised the Albanese government over what he described as a lack of clarity regarding American military operations carried out from Australian soil.

Specifically, he called for transparency about whether Pine Gap was involved in recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have described the bombings as “unilateral” U.S. actions but declined to say whether Australian assets played any role.

“I’m still seeking briefings,” Taylor said. “It’s important we understand the facts around this situation.”