Bullying, jealously pushing Liberal women out of party, Oval meeting told
A Liberals event slammed for hosting hundreds amid new virus restrictions has heard claims bullying and jealousy between the female members are forcing women to dump political aspirations.
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Bullying, belittling and jealousy between women are forcing some of them to quit their aspirations within the Liberal Party, preselected Upper House candidate Laura Curran has told party faithful at a function at Adelaide Oval last night.
The meeting at the Adelaide Oval’s Magarey room was attended by more than 200 Liberal members and attracted criticism yesterday with claims it was a bad look after the announcement of new virus restrictions.
Ms Curran, who was last month preselected in the winnable number four position on the Upper House ticket for the next State Election, and a is a former state and federal candidate, made the comments at the Women’s Council Annual General Meeting.
The former Women’s Council President, who lost that title in a fresh vote last night, said she felt the party could do more to support and encourage women.
“I have realised one of the reasons we have such poor representation in our parliament, is the culture of a few in this room,” she told the crowd.
“As President I have received so many complaints from members about relentless bullying from other women in Women’s Council.”
She told the crowd, of just under 300 members, that several women were not renewing their membership this year because of the behaviour of others.
Ms Curran said she understood politics can come with a level of robust debate but she had seen and received genuine heckling and abuse from party members.
“Civility is not a sign of weakness … it is a concept where you can oppose someone’s point of view with respect, rather than with unblemished aggression,” she said.
Ms Curran referenced Liberal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint, saying she was going to call out “garbage” as her conservative colleague had done last week in a social media post critical of her portrayal in parts of the media.
She read out a couple of examples of abuse she had received from other members.
It is understood Ms Curran reminded the crowd six out of seven Legislative Council candidates for 2022 are female.
“Frankly, this is the legacy I am proud to leave,” she said.
“Not one of bullying and belittling, of excuses and jealousy.
“It is time women get there with the help of other women, without quotas, and without the crap.”
Ms Curran lost out in her bid to retain the Presidency to Sue Lawrie, a moderate, and former candidate and campaigner for the party.
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SA Liberal state director Sascha Meldrum told The Advertiser she would not comment about speeches at internal party meetings.
Earlier she defended the event that had come under fire from some within and outside her party, over social distancing concerns.
She said there “were less than 300 people at the event … about the same number that attended the event last year.”
Referring to the statement she provided to media outlets yesterday Ms Meldrum said the same rules apply to the Liberal Party as anyone else.
“The meeting complies with all current restrictions, will follow an SA Health approved COVID Safe Management Plan, the 1 per 2 square metre rule, social distancing and hygiene requirements,” she said yesterday.
In a tweet this morning she said the event was “in fact a sensibly seated, socially distanced group of Liberal women who met last night.”
Premier Steven Marshall this morning defended the meeting, saying it had occurred within social distancing rules and venue restrictions, with alcohol available under condition members drank it sitting down.
The Advertiser has contact Ms Curran for comment.