Latest news with #AlanStockdale
Sydney Morning Herald
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Please don't leak': New Liberal senator's email missive to party colleagues
The Liberal Party's class of 2025 is ready to take on the Albanese Labor government. But first, they have a bit more fighting among themselves to get through. New NSW senator Jess Collins marked the first day of her term on Tuesday by sending out a lengthy email missive to party delegates containing a few gags, and a few more barely disguised swipes at factional rivals. Bold. In fact, 'Labor' only appeared once. 'I am tired of factional hacks trying to weaponise the Constitution to consolidate or hold on to power,' she said. 'We are not going to find our way out of the wilderness if we can't change the status quo.' Collins entered the upper house after knocking off sitting senator Hollie Hughes in a tough preselection fight last year, thanks in part to support from conservative frontbencher Angus Taylor, whom she thanked in her email missive. The new senator also had intriguing words on the foot-in-mouth comments made last month by party elder Alan Stockdale, who said that Liberal women were so 'sufficiently assertive' that the party might need quotas for men. But not about what he actually said. Loading 'I was disappointed that comments made by Alan Stockdale were leaked to the press,' she said. 'That very afternoon I had just spent two hours with Alan and the Administrative Committee telling them how to improve the outcomes for women. If he suggested women were sufficiently assertive perhaps I am to blame. (Sorry, bad joke – please don't leak it!).'
The Age
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
The Liberals need to be sufficiently assertive to fix their gender problem. Allow me to woman-splain
When former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale, acting as the interim head of the NSW Liberal party, suggested that women in the party were 'sufficiently assertive' and that in fact the Liberals may need to 'protect men's involvement', he said it was a joke. The gag – made to a virtual meeting of the NSW Liberal Women's Council, during a discussion about female representation – didn't land with the crowd. But surely I was not the only one tickled when reading reports of the comments a few days after they were made. It was the use of the adverb 'sufficiently' which most amused me – the idea that female assertiveness has an allocation, and that the allocation had been filled, as decreed by Stockdale. It helped that the news report was illustrated with a photograph of Stockdale (80) and his co-chair, former Howard government minister Richard Alston (84), seated in front of a portrait of Liberal Party founder Robert Menzies – an earnest trio of white-haired gerontocrats. Stockdale's right hand was poised in the air, as though caught mid-mansplain. Last year former Liberal leader Peter Dutton appointed Stockdale, Alston, and former NSW MP Peta Seaton as administrators to run the NSW division. The NSW branch was deemed incapable of managing itself after its failure to nominate 144 candidates for local government elections in September (they had one job, etc). But after Stockdale's comments were widely leaked, the male party veterans had to go. Ironically, their ouster (official reason given: they were too Victorian to help in NSW) only helped to prove the truth of Stockdale's remarks. It seemed very much like they were forced to quit their posts because, well, they came across a lot like out-of-touch old white guys. In lamenting his own victimhood, Stockdale ended up proving his own point.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Liberals need to be sufficiently assertive to fix their gender problem. Allow me to woman-splain
When former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale, acting as the interim head of the NSW Liberal party, suggested that women in the party were 'sufficiently assertive' and that in fact the Liberals may need to 'protect men's involvement', he said it was a joke. The gag – made to a virtual meeting of the NSW Liberal Women's Council, during a discussion about female representation – didn't land with the crowd. But surely I was not the only one tickled when reading reports of the comments a few days after they were made. It was the use of the adverb 'sufficiently' which most amused me – the idea that female assertiveness has an allocation, and that the allocation had been filled, as decreed by Stockdale. It helped that the news report was illustrated with a photograph of Stockdale (80) and his co-chair, former Howard government minister Richard Alston (84), seated in front of a portrait of Liberal Party founder Robert Menzies – an earnest trio of white-haired gerontocrats. Stockdale's right hand was poised in the air, as though caught mid-mansplain. Last year former Liberal leader Peter Dutton appointed Stockdale, Alston, and former NSW MP Peta Seaton as administrators to run the NSW division. The NSW branch was deemed incapable of managing itself after its failure to nominate 144 candidates for local government elections in September (they had one job, etc). But after Stockdale's comments were widely leaked, the male party veterans had to go. Ironically, their ouster (official reason given: they were too Victorian to help in NSW) only helped to prove the truth of Stockdale's remarks. It seemed very much like they were forced to quit their posts because, well, they came across a lot like out-of-touch old white guys. In lamenting his own victimhood, Stockdale ended up proving his own point.
The Advertiser
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Elderly Victorians booted for local control of NSW Libs
A former NSW premier will take control of the state's embattled Liberal Party, as locals replace Victorian octogenarians running the show. The federal takeover of the party was extended on Tuesday for a further nine months, but with Victorian elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston removed from the steering committee. Instead, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, 78, will take the reins in a move welcomed by federal party leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The takeover was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee, which acts as a de facto board. Former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines in the wake of the party's calamitous loss in May's federal election. He told a gathering of female executives on June 3 that Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. Mr Greiner was NSW premier between 1988 and 1992. A former NSW premier will take control of the state's embattled Liberal Party, as locals replace Victorian octogenarians running the show. The federal takeover of the party was extended on Tuesday for a further nine months, but with Victorian elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston removed from the steering committee. Instead, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, 78, will take the reins in a move welcomed by federal party leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The takeover was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee, which acts as a de facto board. Former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines in the wake of the party's calamitous loss in May's federal election. He told a gathering of female executives on June 3 that Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. Mr Greiner was NSW premier between 1988 and 1992. A former NSW premier will take control of the state's embattled Liberal Party, as locals replace Victorian octogenarians running the show. The federal takeover of the party was extended on Tuesday for a further nine months, but with Victorian elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston removed from the steering committee. Instead, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, 78, will take the reins in a move welcomed by federal party leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The takeover was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee, which acts as a de facto board. Former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines in the wake of the party's calamitous loss in May's federal election. He told a gathering of female executives on June 3 that Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. Mr Greiner was NSW premier between 1988 and 1992. A former NSW premier will take control of the state's embattled Liberal Party, as locals replace Victorian octogenarians running the show. The federal takeover of the party was extended on Tuesday for a further nine months, but with Victorian elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston removed from the steering committee. Instead, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, 78, will take the reins in a move welcomed by federal party leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The takeover was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee, which acts as a de facto board. Former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines in the wake of the party's calamitous loss in May's federal election. He told a gathering of female executives on June 3 that Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. Mr Greiner was NSW premier between 1988 and 1992.
The Advertiser
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Liberals launch high-level probe into election drubbing
A former senator and state minister will jointly spearhead a review into the Liberal Party's disastrous federal election loss. Pru Goward, a former NSW state minister, and ex-federal finance minister Nick Minchin will lead the party's autopsy of the calamitous campaign. The Liberals' primary vote at the federal election in May plummeted to its lowest level since the 1940s, slashing the party's representation in the 150-member House of Representatives to just 43 seats. The review will look at reasons for the low primary vote and the performance by the Liberals among different voter groups. It will examine the long-term challenge for the Liberals posed by independents, with key seats lost to teal candidates. "The review will include examination of the performance of, and lessons arising for the federal secretariat, the parliamentary party, the divisions of the Liberal Party and consultants and service providers used by the party," a party statement read. Submissions will be open until August 1. A federal takeover of the party's embattled NSW state branch has been extended for nine months. Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will take the reins from Victorian stalwarts Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston on the steering committee. The move was welcomed by federal opposition leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The federal takeover of the NSW Liberals was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee which acts as a de facto board. Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines after the party's crushing loss in the federal election when he told a gathering of female executives on June 3 Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman welcomed the appointment of the new leadership team. "This strong and skilled committee is well placed to support my NSW parliamentary team to take the fight to (premier) Chris Minns and Labor," he said. A former senator and state minister will jointly spearhead a review into the Liberal Party's disastrous federal election loss. Pru Goward, a former NSW state minister, and ex-federal finance minister Nick Minchin will lead the party's autopsy of the calamitous campaign. The Liberals' primary vote at the federal election in May plummeted to its lowest level since the 1940s, slashing the party's representation in the 150-member House of Representatives to just 43 seats. The review will look at reasons for the low primary vote and the performance by the Liberals among different voter groups. It will examine the long-term challenge for the Liberals posed by independents, with key seats lost to teal candidates. "The review will include examination of the performance of, and lessons arising for the federal secretariat, the parliamentary party, the divisions of the Liberal Party and consultants and service providers used by the party," a party statement read. Submissions will be open until August 1. A federal takeover of the party's embattled NSW state branch has been extended for nine months. Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will take the reins from Victorian stalwarts Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston on the steering committee. The move was welcomed by federal opposition leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The federal takeover of the NSW Liberals was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee which acts as a de facto board. Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines after the party's crushing loss in the federal election when he told a gathering of female executives on June 3 Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman welcomed the appointment of the new leadership team. "This strong and skilled committee is well placed to support my NSW parliamentary team to take the fight to (premier) Chris Minns and Labor," he said. A former senator and state minister will jointly spearhead a review into the Liberal Party's disastrous federal election loss. Pru Goward, a former NSW state minister, and ex-federal finance minister Nick Minchin will lead the party's autopsy of the calamitous campaign. The Liberals' primary vote at the federal election in May plummeted to its lowest level since the 1940s, slashing the party's representation in the 150-member House of Representatives to just 43 seats. The review will look at reasons for the low primary vote and the performance by the Liberals among different voter groups. It will examine the long-term challenge for the Liberals posed by independents, with key seats lost to teal candidates. "The review will include examination of the performance of, and lessons arising for the federal secretariat, the parliamentary party, the divisions of the Liberal Party and consultants and service providers used by the party," a party statement read. Submissions will be open until August 1. A federal takeover of the party's embattled NSW state branch has been extended for nine months. Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will take the reins from Victorian stalwarts Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston on the steering committee. The move was welcomed by federal opposition leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The federal takeover of the NSW Liberals was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee which acts as a de facto board. Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines after the party's crushing loss in the federal election when he told a gathering of female executives on June 3 Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman welcomed the appointment of the new leadership team. "This strong and skilled committee is well placed to support my NSW parliamentary team to take the fight to (premier) Chris Minns and Labor," he said. A former senator and state minister will jointly spearhead a review into the Liberal Party's disastrous federal election loss. Pru Goward, a former NSW state minister, and ex-federal finance minister Nick Minchin will lead the party's autopsy of the calamitous campaign. The Liberals' primary vote at the federal election in May plummeted to its lowest level since the 1940s, slashing the party's representation in the 150-member House of Representatives to just 43 seats. The review will look at reasons for the low primary vote and the performance by the Liberals among different voter groups. It will examine the long-term challenge for the Liberals posed by independents, with key seats lost to teal candidates. "The review will include examination of the performance of, and lessons arising for the federal secretariat, the parliamentary party, the divisions of the Liberal Party and consultants and service providers used by the party," a party statement read. Submissions will be open until August 1. A federal takeover of the party's embattled NSW state branch has been extended for nine months. Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will take the reins from Victorian stalwarts Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston on the steering committee. The move was welcomed by federal opposition leader Sussan Ley. "Nick Greiner will chair a panel going forward that will be supported by (former state MP) Peta Seaton, who was part of the previous panel that had Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston," she said. "I want to thank them for the work they did in getting the reforming of the rules and constitution within my home state of NSW to this point ... the good work that was done by the previous panel will be transferred." The federal executive will stay in charge of the party until March 30. The federal takeover of the NSW Liberals was triggered by a failure in August 2024 to nominate more than 140 candidates for statewide local government elections. It was among a series of bungles for the party's NSW division, beset by widespread factional infighting and a sprawling executive committee which acts as a de facto board. Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton described Mr Alston and Mr Stockdale and a then-unknown third person as "a council of wise elders". But Mr Stockdale hit the headlines after the party's crushing loss in the federal election when he told a gathering of female executives on June 3 Liberal women had become "so assertive" the party might need to consider support for men. Ms Ley, the first female leader of the federal coalition, hit back at the comments. "There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party," she said. "The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks." Reports on the 2022 federal and 2023 state elections identified concerns about internal party structures including the state executive, and deep frustration in its inability to make timely and necessary decisions. NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman welcomed the appointment of the new leadership team. "This strong and skilled committee is well placed to support my NSW parliamentary team to take the fight to (premier) Chris Minns and Labor," he said.
