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The lack of Liberal women isn’t just a political liability – it’s a structural failure. Of course we should consider quotas

Editorial / Opinion Piece / Blog Post

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May 8, 2025

The lack of Liberal women isn’t just a political liability – it’s a structural failure. Of course we should consider quotas

Source: The Guardian

The result of the federal election was shocking but it wasn’t surprising.

It was a resounding message from voters – and we would be foolish not to listen.

The truth is, the Liberal party didn’t lose because of campaign tactics or some leadership missteps alone. We lost because our policies failed to resonate. And they failed to resonate because, too often, they were built without the input of the very Australians we needed to win over – women, young people, multicultural communities and urban voters.

Too many of our policies seemed disconnected from the daily realities of modern Australia. The cost of living, housing, secure jobs, climate and education are dominating the concerns of millions – yet when asked how we’d address them we gave voters little reason to believe we understood the scale of the problem, let alone have credible answers.

The Liberal party’s massive defeat leaves it in dire straits. Where to from here?

To chart a credible path forward, we must return to first principles. The Liberal party was once defined by its broad reach – a party of the “forgotten people”, where aspiration met compassion and economic freedom was balanced by social responsibility. That legacy, championed by the party founder Robert Menzies, meant putting the concerns of ordinary Australians at the centre of political life.

Full article here published by The Guardian.

Image source: The Guardian

 

Author
Maria Kovacic
Focus areas

The result of the federal election was shocking but it wasn’t surprising.

It was a resounding message from voters – and we would be foolish not to listen.

The truth is, the Liberal party didn’t lose because of campaign tactics or some leadership missteps alone. We lost because our policies failed to resonate. And they failed to resonate because, too often, they were built without the input of the very Australians we needed to win over – women, young people, multicultural communities and urban voters.

Too many of our policies seemed disconnected from the daily realities of modern Australia. The cost of living, housing, secure jobs, climate and education are dominating the concerns of millions – yet when asked how we’d address them we gave voters little reason to believe we understood the scale of the problem, let alone have credible answers.

The Liberal party’s massive defeat leaves it in dire straits. Where to from here?

To chart a credible path forward, we must return to first principles. The Liberal party was once defined by its broad reach – a party of the “forgotten people”, where aspiration met compassion and economic freedom was balanced by social responsibility. That legacy, championed by the party founder Robert Menzies, meant putting the concerns of ordinary Australians at the centre of political life.

Full article here published by The Guardian.

Image source: The Guardian

 

Author
Maria Kovacic
Focus areas