Women's Advocate Leaves Liberal Party After Leader's Removal

A women's advocate, Charlotte Mortlock, has left the Liberal Party. This happened after Sussan Ley, the party's first female leader, was recently removed from her position. This event is making people talk about women in politics.
By Newsroom | Politics, Australia |

A women's advocate, Charlotte Mortlock, has left the Liberal Party, citing "recent events" following the removal of Sussan Ley as party leader. Ley's departure after a nine-month tenure marks a significant moment, raising questions about the party's approach to gender representation and its broader electoral standing. The sequence of events has intensified public discussion about whether Australian politics, and the Liberal Party in particular, grapple with issues surrounding women in leadership.

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Timeline of Events and Key Figures

The recent period has seen a flurry of activity within the Liberal Party's leadership.

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  • On Friday, Sussan Ley was ousted as Liberal leader in a party room vote, with Angus Taylor taking over. Jane Hume has been named the new Deputy Leader.

  • Ley announced her immediate resignation from Parliament following the leadership loss, stating she would not return to the backbench.

  • Charlotte Mortlock, founder of the Hilma's Network, a group focused on increasing women's representation within the Liberal Party, has quit the party in the wake of Ley's defeat.

  • Mortlock indicated in a statement that she would seek to support women in politics through other avenues.

  • Ley's tenure as leader lasted approximately nine months, during which she was the first woman to hold the position in the Liberal Party's history.

  • Ley had been brought in to lead the Coalition after a "catastrophic election defeat."

  • Several sources mention a perception problem for the Liberal Party regarding gender, with some linking it to past accusations of bullying and sexual assault within the party, contributing to an environment perceived as unwelcoming to women.

Ley's Leadership and Departure

Sussan Ley stepped into the leadership role with the stated aim of reviving and re-orienting the Liberal Party. She was positioned by supporters as the right person to guide the Coalition through a challenging period after a significant election loss. However, her leadership was characterized by what some have described as internal dissent and a lack of confidence from key party members.

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  • Ley herself acknowledged the difficulties, expressing a tearful intent to resign from her parliamentary seat in Farrer.

  • She framed her departure with a quote from her late mother, emphasizing gratitude for the opportunity despite the outcome.

  • Some insiders suggested that Ley was not part of an established "boys' club" within the party.

  • Despite being the underdog in the leadership challenge, Ley was observed to be smiling when arriving at and departing from the proceedings.

Mortlock's Resignation and the 'Women's Network'

The departure of Charlotte Mortlock from the Liberal Party has drawn attention, particularly given her role as founder of Hilma's Network. This group was established with the objective of enhancing the presence of women within the Liberal Party.

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  • Mortlock's decision to quit was directly linked to the "recent events," understood to refer to Ley's leadership defeat.

  • Jane Hume, the new Deputy Liberal Leader, expressed sadness at Mortlock's departure, calling her an "amazing advocate for women in the Liberal Party."

  • Mortlock stated her intention to continue supporting women in politics through alternative means, suggesting a broader strategic shift in her approach.

  • The varying presence of gender quotas across different state branches of the Liberal Party is noted, indicating an inconsistent approach to female representation.

The Liberal Party's Gender Perception

The ousting of its first female leader and the subsequent resignation of a prominent women's advocate have reignited discussions about the Liberal Party's image and its relationship with women in politics.

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  • Senior figures within the party have publicly attributed Ley's removal to poor polling and electoral prospects, rather than gender.

  • However, external observers and some within the party suggest a more deeply ingrained "perception problem" related to gender.

  • Past issues, including accusations of bullying and sexual assault, are cited as factors that may have contributed to a party culture perceived as uninviting for women.

  • The concept of the "glass cliff," where women are appointed to leadership positions that are precarious or prone to failure, has been raised in analysis of Ley's tenure.

Expert Commentary and Analysis

Political commentators and analysts have offered insights into the implications of these developments for the Liberal Party and Australian politics.

"Senior party figures insist gender had nothing to do with Ley's removal, instead blaming dire polling and looming electoral oblivion."— Tony Barry, former senior Liberal staffer and director of RedBridge Group.

"The party faced an entrenched perception problem around gender."— Tony Barry, former senior Liberal staffer and director of RedBridge Group.

"Many women viewed [the party's culture] as unwelcoming."— Attributed sentiment regarding past accusations of bullying and sexual assault within the Liberal Party.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The departure of Sussan Ley from the Liberal Party leadership and Parliament, coupled with Charlotte Mortlock's resignation from the party, highlights ongoing challenges regarding gender within Australian politics. While some party members emphasize electoral strategy and performance metrics as the drivers behind Ley's removal, the wider narrative points to persistent questions about the Liberal Party's capacity to attract and retain women in influential roles.

Read More: Women's Advocate Leaves Liberal Party After Leader is Replaced

  • Ley's decision to leave Parliament entirely, rather than seeking a return to the backbench, signals a definitive end to her political career.

  • Mortlock's move suggests a potential regrouping of efforts to advance women in politics outside traditional party structures.

  • The Liberal Party faces the task of addressing the perception of a gender-related barrier, which may impact its ability to broaden its appeal and secure electoral success.

  • The circumstances surrounding Ley's leadership bid and subsequent ouster are likely to remain a point of discussion regarding gender dynamics in Australian political leadership.

Sources Used

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Charlotte Mortlock leave the Liberal Party?
She left because of recent events, mainly the removal of Sussan Ley as party leader.
Q: Who is Sussan Ley?
Sussan Ley was the first woman to lead the Liberal Party. She was recently voted out of her leadership role.
Q: What is the Liberal Party's issue with women?
Some people think the party has a problem with how it treats women. Events like these make people ask questions about this.
Q: What is Hilma's Network?
Hilma's Network is a group that wants more women in the Liberal Party. Charlotte Mortlock started this group.