A prominent Liberal figure has dramatically quit the party, citing fears of a voter backlash after the ousting of its first female leader! This move by Charlotte Mortlock, a vocal advocate for women in politics, highlights deep divisions within the Liberal party regarding gender representation and leadership.
Just days after Sussan Ley lost her leadership position, Mortlock announced her departure not only from the Liberal Party but also from Hilma's Network, a grassroots organization she founded to unite "Liberal-minded women." Mortlock, a former staffer for Andrew Bragg, has been a consistent voice pushing for the party to embrace a more progressive stance on climate change and has actively campaigned for gender quotas to achieve a 50% representation of women within the party. "Due to recent events I have decided there are other ways I can support women and Australia," Mortlock stated, signaling a profound disappointment with the current direction.
She expressed pride in the support Hilma's Network provided to women during preselections and elections, noting their events "challenged the party to evolve." Mortlock was also instrumental in a proposal for the New South Wales Liberal executive to reserve 40% of federal seats for women-only preselections. However, this proposal was reportedly removed from the agenda by the management committee, a move that has clearly contributed to her decision.
But here's where it gets controversial... With Ley's departure, the Liberal party room will see its female representation shrink to just five out of 27 MPs, and 11 out of 23 senators in the Senate. This comes after a 2022 election review, co-authored by the new deputy leader Jane Hume, which identified the party's failure to address the concerns of female voters. The review recommended a 50% "target" for female candidates and MPs, rather than a binding quota.
One anonymous Liberal woman lamented, "The boys are back in charge," and expressed deep concern that the party had failed to address key issues like women and the environment between 2022 and 2025. "I'm incredibly worried… here we are in 2026, and so far we've blown up net zero and now we think it's a really good idea to blow up the first female leader of the party," she added.
Another anonymous Liberal woman described the "feminist faction" as "pretty down in the dumps," suggesting that while Ley made "some pretty big fumbles," she wasn't "afforded much grace." This sentiment is echoed by the observation that female voters had already "switched off" in 2022, and while Ley's election had initially made people "a little more receptive," the current situation is disheartening.
Former Liberal cabinet minister Karen Andrews acknowledged the potential for public backlash, stating, "I think it’s possible there will be some pushback from the female supporters of the party who are concerned that maybe Sussan didn’t get a fair go at the leadership." However, she also agreed that Ley had had sufficient time to prove herself and expressed hope that Jane Hume, given her role in the 2022 review, would champion the issues of female voters and ensure "women will be looking to make sure that there are other women on the senior frontbench."
Jane Hume herself called Mortlock's decision "a really sad moment," recognizing her as a "great contributor and a great voice for women that hold Liberal values." She expressed optimism about the future, stating, "I think that there is real opportunity for women’s voices in the Liberal party, and it’s on us to make sure that we demonstrate to Australian women that the Liberal party is the place for them."
And this is the part most people miss... With such a significant drop in female representation and prominent figures like Mortlock leaving, can the Liberal Party truly regain the trust and support of female voters? Do you agree that the party is moving backward on gender representation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
