Female Liberal MPs denounce Andrew Laming replacement

Female government MPs have blasted the preselection victory of the only man in a five-way contest to replace controversial Queenslander Andrew Laming.

LNP candidate Fiona Ward. Picture: Tara Croser

Female government MPs have blasted the preselection victory of the only man in a five-way contest to replace controversial Queenslander Andrew Laming, with Tasmanian Liberal Bridget Archer saying the party could “do better” than its new candidate in Bowman.

Dr Laming, who will leave federal politics at the next election after facing allegations of harassing two female constituents online, will be replaced by Henry Pike to contest the Queensland seat of Bowman.

Mr Pike, a Property Council adviser and former state candidate beat four female candidates, including party legal adviser Maggie Forrest and local mayor Karen Williams. His victory comes amid revelations he sent fat-shaming text messages about women during his time as a Young Liberal more than 10 years ago. He said the messages do not reflect the person he had “grown to be”.

Ms Archer, who holds the ­Coalition’s seat with the slimmest margin, said questions needed to be asked about “what set Mr Pike apart from the four other accomplished candidates”, particularly in light of his “unsavoury past comments towards women”.

“Irrespective of gender, as a party we should expect more from those chosen to represent our community. I just think we can do better,” she said.

Mr Pike had the backing of the LNP’s religious right including Assistant Women’s Minister Amanda Stoker who described him as one of her “closest friends”.

A female Liberal MP, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was clear that merit was “not the way it really works”.

“There’s increasingly one rule for women and how they need to get into parliament and another for the blokes. If some of my colleagues can’t start to see that, they are missing the point,” the MP said.

The result has been seen by some as a snub to Scott Morrison who reportedly had a preference for a “strong female” to replace Dr Laming.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who recently supported a debate on gender quotas and is the most senior Queensland woman in cabinet, said it would be disappointing for the female Bowman candidates to “end their participation in the LNP here”.

“As a party, we need to support these talented women so they can have other opportunities to represent their community,” she said.

In the wake of the series of gendered assault and harassment ­allegations that have plagued parliament this year, the Prime Minister voiced his support for state party divisions to adopt gender quotas as the Coalition battled with how to boost its female representation.

Queensland LNP MP Angie Bell said the party’s members had to accept the democratic decision of the state branch.

“It would have been great to see another woman in parliament but clearly the people of Bowman have spoken and have chosen their candidate,” she said.

Ms Bell, a former Liberal ­National Party women’s president in Queensland, said recruitment programs were key to creating a “sustained pipeline for women ready for preselection”. “I don’t believe we have enough women in that pipeline,” she said.

Ms Bell, who said the Queensland LNP would not accept gender quotes, said such programs could be used on a wider level by state branches in the party to boost female representation.

“In terms of safe seats, we need more women to stand for pre­selection. That means having more women ready to stand and the only way you can do that is to have programs for women to bolster their confidence, skills and ­eligibility,” she said.

Ms Bell encouraged the four ­female candidates to keep try to seek out avenues in politics.