Scott Morrison ‘proud’ NSW Liberals have adopted target for female candidates

As debate continues over the lack of women within government ranks, Scott Morrison says he’s ‘proud his home state has adopted this one thing.

Scott Morrison says he is “very determined” to lift the number of female preselected candidates in Australian politics but has stopped short of confirming he has personally intervened in the matter.

Reports on Friday suggested nearly half of the NSW Liberal Party’s 2022 candidates could be women after a target was set by the state executive.

Asked about the reports Mr Morrison had been personally consulted, the Prime Minister remained coy but told reporters he was pleased the NSW Liberals set such a target.

“I'm very proud and pleased that my home division, the one that I’m a member of, has such a target,” he said on a visit to Snowy Hydro on Friday.

Scott Morrison did not confirm if he had personally intervened to preselect more women. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen

“I want to see great female candidates running for us in seats right across the country and I’m very determined to achieve that.

“We are already have some outstanding female candidates already running right across the country.

“And you heard my dear friend Greg Hunt making that same point when he stands down at the next election. He's very hopeful to see a female candidate to replace him.

“But these are ultimately matters for the party organisation, so I really do want to see that.”

The Health Minister, who on Thursday announced he would retire from politics at the next election, told Sky News that an increase in female candidates would be “transformative” for the party.

Greg Hunt says he wants a brilliant woman to replace him in Finders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I would love to see a strong, brilliant Liberal woman preselected (for his seat of Flinders),” Mr Hunt said.

“We already have the highest number of women in cabinet in Australian history. People such as Katie Allen and Amanda Stoker and Fiona Martin and Melissa McIntosh and Lucy Wicks who are emerging as future strong leaders within the party.

“So it’s the strongest female talent that I‘ve ever seen. But then the incoming group, I think, is just transformative.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison ‘proud’ NSW Liberals have adopted target for female candidates