Labor pushes button on women wedge

Labor has attempted to wedge the Liberal Party on female representation ahead of the next federal election.

Bill Shorten wearing the badge during question time. Picture: Kym Smith

Labor has attempted to wedge the Liberal Party on female representation ahead of the next federal election, after Bill Shorten told his colleagues their opponents “seem to struggle” with the notion of women in parliament.

As Scott Morrison was again forced to deny there was bullying in the parliamentary wing of the Liberal Party, the Opposition Leader joined a growing number of Labor MPs in wearing a red badge declaring “Labor women are the life of the party”.

The Australian understands the badges were organised by the office of deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek after incoming party president Wayne Swan’s wife, Kim, noticed the Democrats in the US had material with the same slogan.

The badge worn by Mr Shorten. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Swan suggested Labor do something similar as a “morale boost” for staff and activists.

The badges were not paid for using taxpayer funds.

Mr Shorten also used yesterday’s regular caucus meeting to congratulate Labor on its “wisdom” in agreeing to adopt quotas of 50 per cent female MPs by 2025.

The Prime Minister yesterday blamed “local” party politics and “stupid games” within the organisational wing after another female marginal seatholder, Ann Sudmalis, cited “ego-driven ambition, bullying and betrayal” — allegedly led by NSW state MP Gareth Ward — for her decision not to contest the next election.

“It’s important party members, like parliamentary members, always remember why they’re involved in politics; that is to serve the Australian people, not to carry on with ­stupid games,” Mr Morrison said.

“I used to work as a party director in NSW … We all get frustrated by the shenanigans and silliness that goes on within political party organisations.

“It irritates the stuffing out of me, but … it doesn’t distract me.”

The Liberal Party’s state divisions told The Australian they would work with Mr Morrison after he called for a “rigorous and confidential” complaints handling process but largely defended procedures they already had in place.

One senior official envisaged an “ideas sharing session” where state executives could swap ideas and potentially adopt new processes to deal with complaints and ­attract more women to the party.

Mr Morrison hit back against Labor attacks in question time, using the example of the party’s former candidate for the marginal seat of Hasluck, Lauren Palmer, who quit amid factional warfare.

He also referenced the controversy surrounding Labor member for Lindsay Emma Husar, who was embroiled in controversy following complaints made by her staff.

“(Mr Shorten’s) ears were painted on when it came to listening to the concerns of his own members and, indeed, the concerns of the Australian people,” Mr Morrison said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian refuted Ms Sudmalis’s claim that Mr Ward was a bully, while conservative NSW Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said the marginal seatholder was leaving politics because she had lost the numbers in her local branches.

“The reality is horses for courses, politics is a tough game and Harry S. Truman once said ‘If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen’,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells told Sky News.

Additional reporting: Greg Brown