Madeleine Ogilvie is the last Liberal woman in the Lower House
Madeleine Ogilvie is the last Liberal woman MP in the House of Assembly, and one analyst says it’s a problem. Here’s how we got here.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There’s just one Liberal woman left standing in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, something a Tasmanian political analyst says shows the party has a “woman problem”.
When the Liberals were elected in 2021, there were four women from the party who’d secured seats: Elise Archer, Madeleine Ogilvie, Sarah Courtney and Jacquie Petrusma.
Ms Courtney resigned from parliament in February last year, and was replaced by former Vinnies chief Lara Alexander.
Just a five months later came the resignation of Ms Petrusma, who was replaced by Dean Young.
Fast forward to May this year and Ms Alexander sensationally quit the Liberal Party, unhappy with the party’s stadium push.
She retained her seat in parliament as an independent.
The most recent departure was Ms Archer, who resigned from parliament amid allegations she’d bullied staff and sent online messages demeaning her colleagues.
On Tuesday, Simon Behrakis was elected to replace her.
It leaves just one Liberal woman in the Lower House, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“It looks like from today (Tuesday), Tas Liberal House of Assembly representation will include more men called Simon than female members,” independent MLC Meg Webb said on X (formerly Twitter).
There are three Liberal women in the state’s Upper House.
Tasmanian political analyst Kate Crowley said the situation could be reflective of systematic problems.
“The Liberal Party’s shown it can’t retain women … they have a women problem,” Professor Crowley said.
“There’s a problem with a party that can’t retain its female MPs.
“The government’s policies will not be reflective of what the community is actually thinking if it’s driven by men.”
She said the state government needed to preselect women candidates next election, and put them high on the ticket, even at the expense of male politicians.
“Part of the solution is to get more women into powerful places,” she said.
“I would say they actually need quotas, which is not a popular thing to say. They need to set themselves some targets.”
Earlier this week Ms Ogilvie was seemingly not phased by her minority situation.
“My career has been through law and the tech sector, there have been very many parts of my career where I have been in minority,” she said on Monday.
“What I like about the Liberal Party is we do things on merit, I’m there on merit, it is a meritocracy.
“That’s not to say there isn’t work to do and I’m out there actively promoting political careers for women.”
Ms Ogilvie was asked about assertions the party wasn’t the place for strong women.
“I think I’m a fairly strong woman and I’m there so I guess I do disagree with that,” she said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Madeleine Ogilvie is the last Liberal woman in the Lower House
‘Excessive’ drug dosage led to former engineer, 71, death
A ‘human error’ to administer an ‘inappropriate and excessive’ drug dosage likely led to the death of a former geotechnical engineer, a corner found. How it happened.
Two mates ‘beg, borrow or steal’ to fuel Baskerville dreams
Blood might be thicker than water, but what about oil? Two revhead best mates have watched the gripping Baskerville races since they were children. Here’s why they keep coming back.