‘You talk big game but no action’: Crisafulli blasted on LNP female quotas

Government minister Meaghan Scanlon has taken aim at Opposition Leader David Crisafulli for failing to back female quotas for Parliament, saying it was “no wonder” the LNP had a “problem with women”.

Palaszczuk government minister Meaghan Scanlon has taken aim at Opposition Leader David Crisafulli for failing to back female quotas in Parliament, saying it was no wonder the LNP had a problem with women.

Ms Scanlon said Mr Crisafulli talked a “big game” about wanting more women to represent the LNP but “time after time, his actions don’t match his words”.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston

It comes after the Opposition Leader sidestepped questions at the weekend about whether there should be female quotas in Queensland parliament, saying it was up to party members to determine.

But Mr Crisafulli insisted he wanted at least seven of the 14 seats that the LNP needed for a majority government to be represented by women at the 2024 state election.

Ms Scanlon claimed that since Mr Crisafulli had been in parliament, the number of LNP women in the chamber had dropped from “an embarrassing 19 per cent to an even more dismal 17 per cent”.

And she also took aim at Mr Crisafulli, who last week refused to rule out whether a future LNP government would review the state’s abortion laws.

“It’s no wonder the LNP have a problem with women,” she said.

Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Liam Kidston

But Mr Crisafulli said he would not be distracted by his “political opponents who are embroiled in integrity scandals and crises in service delivery”.

“I am determined to lead the continued reform of a centre right political party,” he said.

“That involves more candidates from a broader range of backgrounds including women, youth, culturally diverse and people from small and family business.

“I have outlined what I intend to achieve and will be held responsible for this success.”

National Party Leader David Littleproud, when speaking at the LNP’s state convention at the weekend, said female voters snubbed the party at the recent federal election – but he ruled out gender-based quotas to boost female representation.

Under Queensland Labor’s affirmative action rules, the party aims to have 50 per cent women in parliament by 2025.