‘Women are watching’ treatment of Sussan Ley by party
Unseating the first woman to lead the Liberal Party would be a “horrible prospect” for female voters as Sussan Ley’s leadership faces renewed pressure over climate policy.
Ms Ley has been forced to play down speculation she could challenge her fledgling leadership after her two main rivals, Liberal Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie, were seen having dinner together in Canberra.
The two voiced their support for ending the coalition’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
Internal squabbles over the key climate target have increased following the National Party’s decision to scrap the policy.
Monash University politics lecturer Blair Williams said it would be a “horrible sight” for the Liberal Party’s first female leader to be abandoned by a group of men.
“Women are watching,” he told AAP.
“By electing a female leader in Ley, they sent a message to Australia: ‘We are paying attention to what you tell us in the elections.’
“So you need more women and you need to focus more on women’s issues.”
Recent polls have found support for the Liberals has fallen to historic lows, further increasing pressure on the opposition leader.
Ms Ley played down the meeting between two conservatives in her party and said she was completely confident in her position.
Asked whether she was prepared to give up net zero to salvage her leadership, Ms Ley said: “There are a lot of different views in our party room.”
Increasing speculation has led former National Championship leader Michael McCormack to call for his leader to be given fresh air and a chance to do the job.
Dr Williams said anyone taking the reins of the coalition after the disastrous election defeat on May 3 would have difficulty running the party, but Ms Ley’s situation was “made worse by the fact that she is a woman”.
Mr Taylor told Sky News the opposition leader’s position was secure and he believed he would lead the party into the next election.
The decision on the coalition’s climate policy is expected to be made by the end of 2025.
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