Is Australia ready for another female leader?
Ley's elevation to the liberal leadership is a significant moment in Australian political history, and it sets twin tests. The first is for the Liberal Party: after years of decline in female support because of perceptions it is too male-dominated, too blokey, is it ready to be led by a woman? And will the party give her time to grow into the role?
The second test is for those Australians who struggled, during Gillard's prime ministership, with the mere fact that a woman was leading the country – many of whom shared sexist and denigrating memes.
We don't know yet whether Australians are ready for a woman to lead a major political party once again, let alone whether a majority would be prepared to vote a woman into the prime ministership. (And that's before you factor in the 33 seats the Coalition has to win back to form government.)
The federal political landscape is supposed to have changed for the better in the past decade, with shocking revelations raised by Brittany Higgins and Rachelle Miller leading to the Respect@Work report into sexual harassment, the Set the Standard report into parliament's workplace culture and more.
Steps have been taken to improve the culture in Canberra with the creation of a Parliamentary Workplace Support Service and an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission – though both lack the teeth they need.
In theory, the arrival of another federal leader who happens to be a woman should be no big deal. It has become commonplace for state premiers and chief ministers to be women. Women have held almost every senior portfolio federally, though not as treasurer.
Countering that, the Liberal Party has, to be blunt, failed in the past decade with its treatment of and appeal to women, with its policy offering becoming less and less appealing to women under Scott Morrison and then Peter Dutton.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
26 minutes ago
- Perth Now
PM ready to walk the talk as MPs return to parliament
Like many workers on Monday morning, the start of the work week for Anthony Albanese began with a commute from home to the office. As MPs and senators gather in Canberra ahead of the first sitting week of the new parliament, the prime minister braved a chilly winter morning to walk from The Lodge to Parliament House, ahead of official proceedings kicking off. Arriving alongside his son Nathan, the prime minister is set to start his second term in office implementing a lengthy agenda taken to voters at May's election. Labor's ranks have expanded in the 48th parliament to include 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, being the first government in nearly 60 years to not lose a single seat at a federal poll. The prime minister will address the significantly increased Labor caucus later on Monday, before parliament is officially opened on Tuesday. Earlier, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addressed her joint party room for the first time since the coalition's landslide loss at the election, which has seen their numbers reduced to just 43 seats. She said the real work of opposition would begin with the start of parliament, but was ready for the challenge. "On behalf of struggling Australians, we are here for them. We are here to take the fight up to (the government)," she told the party room meeting. "That's what people expect. They want a parliament that understands their lives, what their lives are like, and a government that gets out of the way. "Our policies are up for review, but our values are not." Among the laws set to be introduced in the first week of parliament are a 20 per cent reduction for HECS debts for students, expanded protection for penalty rates and increased safety measures for children in childcare centres. Ms Ley said the opposition would be willing to work with the government to get the childcare laws passed as soon as possible. "If the prime minister and his team brings forward constructive policies that are in the national interest, then we'll support them, and we'll work with them," she said. Nationals leader David Littleproud said the coalition is prepared for a tough path back to forming government. "We have to be humble for what has happened to us. But we can do one of two things: we can sit in the corner in the fetal position and give up, or we can come out swinging," he said. "And I can tell you what we will do is come out swinging."
Sky News AU
26 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Coalition drifts on substantive policy issues as latest poll delivers worst result in recent history
The Coalition has suffered its lowest level of voter support in recent history as internal disunity and a lack of clear direction on key policy issues have taken their toll. Before parliament has even returned for its first sitting week, the Coalition's primary vote has fallen to 29 per cent — its lowest level recorded by Newspoll in four decades. In contrast, the final pre-election poll conducted in May 2025 had the Coalition's support at 34 per cent, suggesting a five-point slide in just under three months. The dramatic slide has exposed the challenge facing Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who has yet to secure a coherent platform or clear public backing. The Coalition has not confirmed where it stands on net zero or gender quotas, and has walked away from its nuclear promise and pledge to cut international student numbers. Despite embarking on a national 'listening' tour since taking over the leadership, Ms Ley received just 35 per cent approval, but 42 per cent disapproval. She trails Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister 52-32, even though he has a disapproval rating of 47 per cent and net approval of zero per cent. Nearly a quarter of voters remain undecided about Ms Ley, underlining her limited impact as the party has still failed to achieve any substantive policy positions. The Coalition has not settled its position on several high-profile issues — including net zero emissions, gender quotas, or any substantive economic or social policies. Liberal senator Jane Hume acknowledged the gravity of the polling slump but sought to downplay its significance on Monday. 'This is a poll that I think that starts every parliamentary term. It's actually not that unusual for a new opposition to be well behind in the polls,' she told Sky News. Others within the Coalition took a harder line as Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce described the poll result as 'brutal'. 'I think the Coalition's role… is you have to find issues which are binary, which you are fully for, and the Labor Party is fully against,' Mr Joyce said on Channel 7's Sunrise. 'That's why issues such as net-zero, I say: find a point of division. You don't believe in net zero, they do believe in net zero.' However, Nationals leader David Littleproud said the party had not come to a position, and was still reviewing its commitment to net zero. 'We've undertaken a review… After the election, I made it very clear that we will start an internal process… and that work has commenced,' Mr Littleproud said. The issue has divided the joint partyroom, with high-profile figures, including Liberal senator Alex Antic and Nationals senator Matt Canavan, pushing to abandon net zero. Meanwhile, Liberal senator Jane Hume and Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie have argued in favour of the climate target. Labor figures have been quick to capitalise on the disarray, with Mr Albanese saying the opposition has 'some issues they need to sort out'. 'I think they should sort themselves out before they start going back to where they've been for the last three years, frankly,' Mr Albanese said on Thursday. 'Never having anything positive to contribute, always being critical, seeking to look for distinction, when what they should be doing is just supporting Australia's national interest.' Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek argued that voters were tired of the kind of 'fighting politics' advocated for by Mr Joyce. 'I'm a bit alarmed that Barnaby thinks that the lesson from the last election was that they weren't negative and combative enough,' she said on Monday. Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien attempted to rally behind the Tasmanian election, where the Liberals have been projected to form minority government. He argued the result proved the Liberal Party 'is not on its knees' and described the outcome as a 'message of inspiration'. 'We know that we're in the opposition party room, but we also know that we are an incredibly strong and talented team,' Ms Ley told the joint party room on Monday. 'Our job is to represent the millions of Australians who voted for us, but also the millions who maybe didn't, but still expect us to be the strongest, best opposition that we can. 'If the Prime Minister and his team bring forward constructive policies that are in the national interest, then we'll support them, and we'll work with them. 'But if they don't do that, if they bring forward legislation that is not in the national interest and it is not in the interests of Australians then we will fight them.'
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese calls for US-China dialogue, Australia to play ‘constructive middle power' after Beijing
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Beijing and Washington to step up communication between the two powerhouse countries as he pitches Australia playing a 'constructive' role as a middle power in a turbulent world. The Prime Minister said Australia could be a 'calm, consistent and clear voice for stability, security, economic growth and certainty going forward'. 'I think we can play a positive role. We are US allies, but we have a constructive relationship with China,' Mr Albanese said following his high level meetings with China's top leadership during his six-day tour of the country. 'Australia as a middle power can play a positive and constructive role in the world. We are living in uncertain times and there is turbulence in the world.' The Prime Minister invoked two Labor titans on his tour, first walking in the footsteps of Gough Whitlam as he visited the Great Wall of China and recalled how the former leader opened the door to Australia's modern day relations with Beijing by establishing formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China in 1972. Mr Albanese also became the first Australian Prime Minister since Bob Hawke in 1986 to visit Chengdu in the southwest province of Sichuan. Mr Hawke enjoyed access to the senior PRC leadership that was unmatched by other major Western leaders. Professor James Curran had previously highlighted in a 2023 research paper that Mr Hawke played a bridging role between China and the United States. Mr Albanese said he did not view himself in a conduit role given the US and China had a separate relationship but he urged the two global giants to open up dialogue, similar to the 'communication mechanisms' the US and the Soviet Union adopted during the Cold War. 'It is in the world's interests that the two major powers are able to engage and where there are differences talk about them,' he said. Mr Albanese's week-long, trade-focused trip drew together Australian and Chinese industry executives for roundtable talks on widening business collaboration and cooperation on green energy. But the centrepiece of the visit was a series of bilateral meetings in Beijing with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Communist Party chief Zhao Leji, who all rolled out the red carpet treatment for Mr Albanese. 'I have a good relationship with the Chinese president and Premier and we met the number three, Chairman Zhao as well,' he said. 'We had a very constructive meeting, he'll lead a delegation to Australia later this year. 'Having two-and-a-half hours with Premier Li and two-and-a-half hours with President Xi sends a message to the whole of the Chinese government and therefore the whole of the Chinese economic system that they value the relationship with Australia.' Mr Albanese agreed the goodwill of the past week would make it easier to pick up the phone to Beijing if there was a future crisis. 'I have been able to engage in a constructive way,' he said. 'We're able to have discussions both publicly and be able to act diplomatically.'
