Female backlash over ScoMo savages Frydenberg vote

Women furious with Scott Morrison and concern over climate change combined with the Liberals shedding once rusted-on voters in the most conservative parts of Kooyong.

A disapointed Josh Frydenberg on election night. Picture: David Caird

Women furious with Scott Morrison and concern over climate change combined to oust Josh Frydenberg from Kooyong, with the outgoing minister shedding once rusted-on voters in the most conservative parts of the ­electorate.

The Liberal Party was stunned by the size of the swing against the former federal treasurer, with ­independent teal Monique Ryan also profiting from a sharp fall in support for Labor and Greens.

Support for Mr Frydenberg was late last year believed to be high enough to comfortably ­retain the seat, but the twin issues of climate and the pandemic added to the cocktail of a long-term, Queensland-centric conservative government.

The more than 6000 extra women in Kooyong, many apparently activated by the climate issue and the treatment of women, helped tip the seat into the independent’s hands, Liberal sources said. Senior Liberals have been scathing of the strategy adopted by Mr Morrison, who ran a campaign that was perceived to be hostile to the Kooyong electorate.

Once soundly conservative, Kooyong transformed at the weekend into a left-leaning, ­climate-focused seat that turned against the Liberals in even their best booths. After Sunday’s press conferences, Mr Frydenberg was embraced by voters in an at-times emotional farewell in a Hawthorn park. He said climate was a major reason for the backlash, adding that the communication of policies could have been better.

“What I do believe is that Australia has not been well served by the culture wars on climate change,” he said.

“Whether you believe in it or don’t believe in it, climate change is not a religion. It needs to be dealt with from a perspective of engineering, economics and also environmental science.’’

Mr Frydenberg has not ruled out a return to politics, but is ­expected to review his options once a line is drawn under the seat; it is almost certain the seat has been lost. “I definitely have got plenty of fire in my belly, plenty of time to do other things,” he said.

Booths across Kooyong fell sharply for Mr Frydenberg, including previous strongholds as near Scotch College on Glenferrie Rd, where support dropped nearly 6 per cent. In Mont ­Albert North, it was down more than 10 per cent.

His primary vote slumped 7.6 per cent overall to 41.6 per cent, several points below where he needed to be to win the seat.

The Greens slumped 15 points to just 6 per cent and Labor was down 11.2 points to 6.3 per cent.

Ms Ryan, meanwhile, secured 42.6 per cent after a well-targeted campaign pitched at women, ­climate and integrity issues. On a two-party-preferred basis, she leads with 54.4 per cent of the vote, with postals to be counted.

Mr Frydenberg said he did not believe the pandemic played a major role, amid claims by Labor he had failed to properly support Melburnians during lockdowns.

“I don’t think you could draw that conclusion from the election result, about it being a pandemic result,” he said. “I think people understand that the federal government pulled out all stops.”

On the parlous state of the Victorian Liberal Party, he said: “It has been challenging in Victoria for many years. It actually goes back to (late former leader) ­Andrew Peacock’s time, before we were winning the majority of seats here.”