Piers Akerman: Women should be selected for politics on their own merits

Scott Morrison’s brain snap about the possible introduction of quotas to produce more women in the Liberal ranks flies in the face of the party’s most rudimentary principles, Piers Akerman.

The recent revelations of disgusting, abhorrent and appalling behaviour in the federal parliament have been matched by the utterly dismal responses from many of our politicians.

In the week just ended, the last sitting week until parliament meets again for the May 11 Budget, the rancid politicking has all but overshadowed governance.

Members of the Liberals, Labor, Greens and the media must share the blame for the collapse in standing of the political process.

In this frenzy of cannibalistic behaviour, the denizens of the Canberra bubble have forgotten to consider how they appear to the people they are all meant to serve.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has forgotten basic lessons he should have learnt from his predecessors John Howard and Tony Abbott and has abandoned the first principles of his office with wild statements which will have long disturbing consequences.

Two particularly stand out.

First, his bizarre thought fart that an examination and possible introduction of quotas to produce more women in the Liberal ranks might appease the baying activist harpies and in some peculiar manner bring about a greater civility and all-round better government.

This brain snap flies in the face of the most rudimentary Liberal principles and defies all evidence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty

Where anywhere has a greater proportion of women in the political process, let alone female leadership, brought about a demonstrably better government?

The current flounderings of the EU nations over the distribution of COVID vaccines shows that sex is not a determinant in bitterness, selfishness, manipulation or more importantly, competence.

As for female leadership, just look at the near-collapse of our neighbour New Zealand under the sainted Jacinda Ardern, who has achieved global celebrity with her piety and obeisance to nauseating levels of political correctness as she leads her nation backward and downward.

The second extraordinary lapse in prime ministerial behaviour was Morrison’s invitation to meet Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer who this year made the serious allegation that she believes she was raped in a ministerial office in 2019.

Higgins’ claim is under investigation by the federal police, as it should be. Meeting her now before that inquiry is concluded, to offer anything more than general words of sympathy is not in the interests of justice.

To turn the justice system on its head in this manner, no matter how much sympathy Higgins’ legions of activist and media supporters have created, is not a solution and undermines the investigative process.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Picture: Mark Tantrum/Getty

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, in whose office the alleged rape occurred, has shown herself to be unfit to be a minister, let alone in charge of such a senior portfolio.

Ministerial competence is judged by the ability to take responsibility for events and respond publicly and effectively. Whatever her underlying health conditions may be, Reynolds has failed to act ministerially and should be relieved of her duties.

Women’s Minister Marise Payne has also failed in this regard.

If a minister is unable to argue a case successfully, that minister cannot succeed and, it must be asked, why should that person be kept in that position?

The media have been quick to conflate the Higgins matter with the historical claims made against Attorney-General Christian Porter over allegations of a drunken rape alleged to have occurred 33 years ago.

In the frenzy, a third account of gross behaviour on the part of a gang of rogue homosexuals, Liberal and Labor, who allegedly met in ministerial suites to engage in orgies during Question Time, has been added to the other two accusations to give the public the impression that Parliament House is nothing less than Sodom and Gomorrah on the Molonglo.

The goal of those behind these impassioned events has not been to serve women, though this has been how it is framed, but to undermine the Morrison Coalition government.

Labor has made much of the women in its ranks and has installed quotas to put women into safe seats has in the space of some 30 federal elections won only two in its own right while the Liberals, who have been actively seeking women to stand for preselection on their own merits, has been rewarded by the voting public.

But when is Morrison going to start acting as a mature prime minister?