‘We have to do way better’: Littleproud addresses LNP women problem

Nationals leader David Littleproud says the Coalition must “do way better” when it comes to listening to women if it is to restore the trust he believes was lost while in government.

Speaking to a full hall at the Liberal-National Party convention in Brisbane on Saturday, the federal Deputy Opposition leader called for the conservative faithful to come together, but to “firstly ... own up” to the mistakes that cost them the May election.

Nationals leader David Littleproud and deputy Perin Davey (right) - also pictured with Bridget McKenzie (left) at Parliament House after the vote on the party’s leadership.Credit: James Brickwood

“[We must] listen to and understand ... women right across the country, and their aspirations, their fears, their goals – listen and learn, understand, and rebuild that trust,” he said.

This, the perceived disconnect with female voters, was the only mistake Littleproud referenced in his near-20-minute speech. He instead used almost all of his stage time to defend the Coalition’s time in government, including its much-criticised responses to natural disasters and the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Let me tell you, we were behind the rest of the world,” he said of the vaccines. “Because we wanted to make sure before we asked you to put your arm out, we knew what we were putting in it.”

The new Nationals leader also talked up the Coalition’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, though he did not utter these words before the Queensland LNP crowd, instead choosing the less-incendiary denotation of “international commitments”.

“It’s an international commitment that gives us a licence to trade,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton did not address the convention because he is on holidays.

Speaking in his place, Littleproud again called for the new Labor government to explore small modular nuclear reactors as a means to a low-emissions energy future.

“We’re not saying it’s going to happen tomorrow, we’re not saying you’re going to have a big nuclear power plant in Australia anywhere,” he said.

“But why wouldn’t we have a little look, see where it gets to, see what it costs, and see if we can adapt it to Australian standards that gives us confidence and safety in giving us dispatchable, reliable power that’s affordable, and reduces our emissions.

“That’s common sense.”

The reference to affordable power reducing emissions was one of the largest applause lines in the speech. Also popular was his praise of Queensland MP Michelle Landry, who retained the working-class seat of Capricornia for a third time, and who briefly addressed the convention after Littleproud to be more specific about the Coalition’s women issue.

“It’s important that our two deputy leaders are females,” Landry said, referencing the Liberals’ Sussan Ley and the Nationals’ Perin Davey.

“And as has been spoken about a lot over the weekend, we do have a problem getting our female politicians, but also we have a problem with women out in the electorate.

“I certainly have been speaking to our leaders about this because the feedback that I have been receiving is that there is a major issue out there with women that are over 50 who have been married, divorced, got no superannuation, got no savings, and they’re looking to us for help.”