Angus Taylor dodges ‘feminist’ label as bruised Liberals fight over gender quotas

In the wake of a growing gender war within the bruised Liberal Party, there is one question Angus Taylor won’t clearly answer: Is he a feminist?

Coalition defence spokesman Angus Taylor stopped short of labelling himself a feminist amid accusations he is undermining his party’s first ever female leader Sussan Ley over the issue of gender parity. 

The Liberal Party has been dogged with questions over how it will boost female representation within its ranks after a catastrophic loss at the federal election that was led by women abandoning the Coalition.

Ms Ley last week left the door open on gender quotas saying she would support state branches if they chose to pursue quotas but equally if they chose not to adopt them.

Her position came alongside a growing openness towards quotas from senior Liberal women including Anne Ruston, Melissa McIntosh, Linda Reynolds and Maria Kovacic.

Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Mr Taylor on Friday said he had “never been a supporter of quotas”, telling the ABC it was because he didn’t “believe in subverting democratic processes”.

Pressed on whether he was a feminist – after Ms Ley described herself as one — Mr Taylor told reporters he was a “great champion for capable, talented women”, but did not commit to using the term to describe himself.

“I’ve got two wonderful, wonderful daughters who are capable, strong and talented … many people like to define that in many different ways … but I will always champion talented and capable women,” he said.

When asked why he wouldn’t use the word “feminist” to describe himself, Mr Taylor said his position was “defined in many different ways”.

“My definition of my job (is) as someone who has to be a champion for talent … I always advocate for strong, capable people to come into the Liberal Party, to make a contribution,” he said.

Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley during the last post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire

Labor was quick to seize Mr Taylor’s position as a sign he was undermining Ms Ley just two months after he lost the leadership challenge between the pair by just four votes. 

“Angus Taylor is all the proof you need that Liberal Party preselection is not based on merit,” Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said while spruiking the government’s paid parental leave policy in Sydney’s southwest.

“I also think it’s incredible that the blokes in the Liberal Party haven’t even given Sussan Ley two months in the leadership without beginning to undermine her.

“Honestly, this is all the proof you need that the Liberal Party don’t understand Australian women and they don’t understand gender equality.”

Mr Taylor’s position also attracted criticism from within the Liberal Party ranks with Hilma’s Network founder Charlotte Mortlock accused Mr Taylor of finding no alternative to quotas.

Ms Mortlock, who pushes for more female representation in the party, earlier criticised former Prime Minister Tony Abbott over similar remarks,

She accused the pair of only supporting “ a very select few women to be preselected in the last term despite supporting a plethora of men”.

“The vague and ambiguous ‘we must do better with women’ … is smoke and mirrors.”

Originally published as Angus Taylor dodges ‘feminist’ label as bruised Liberals fight over gender quotas