Unlocking Gender Diversity: Liberals Debate Quotas vs. Candidate Pools

The Liberal party is grappling with the challenge of gender imbalance, with frontbencher Melissa McIntosh proposing gender-balanced candidate pools as an alternative to quotas. This comes as nearly 100 women recently convened for a three-hour discussion on fostering gender diversity within the opposition.
While support for quotas appears to be growing among party insiders, particularly in New South Wales, any significant reform mirroring rules first adopted in the mid-1990s is likely to be a lengthy process.
McIntosh, the shadow women’s minister, has urged for a broader discussion beyond a simple yes or no on quotas. She emphasized that while strong systems can open doors, it’s the party’s culture that truly determines whether women thrive and reach leadership positions. McIntosh stated her openness to quotas or other mechanisms for change, but stressed the importance of addressing the party’s culture first.
She suggested that a structural re-design could include gender-balanced candidate pools to ensure equality of opportunity, aligning with the party’s values rather than dictating outcomes. McIntosh also highlighted the importance of examining leadership pipelines, mentorship initiatives, and other evidence-based mechanisms. This candidate pool model would be similar to the “A-list” system implemented by the Conservative party in Britain under former prime minister David Cameron, which prioritized a balanced representation of women and minority backgrounds.
During the recent meeting, participants, diverse in age, largely favored quotas and other significant changes, though no specific model or next steps were decided. The Young Liberals have also advocated for a candidate pool model.
Despite the apparent majority support for quotas, a senior party member indicated that it’s unlikely quotas, which would require constitutional amendments and a state council vote, would be in place by the next state election in 2027 due to structural complexities.
The federal leader, Sussan Ley, has expressed an “agnostic” stance on the party’s approach but remains committed to recruiting more women. In contrast, frontbencher Angus Taylor has publicly opposed quotas, arguing they would “subvert democratic processes” and suggesting more internal mentorship instead.
However, vocal proponents for quotas, such as Maria Kovacic, are pushing for more immediate action. Kovacic supports temporary quotas with a sunset clause, envisioning them as a mechanism to achieve gender balance within two election cycles before returning to the existing system.