Liberal Alan Stockdale apologises after saying women ‘are so assertive’

A member of the committee which took over control of the NSW Liberal branch has apologised after triggering fury among women party members with his comments, which included calling them “so assertive”.

Past president of the Federal Liberal Party Alan Stockdale, who now sits on a three-person administrative committee overseeing the NSW Liberals. Picture: AAP Image / Julian Smith

One of the men appointed in the federal takeover of the NSW Liberals has triggered fury among female colleagues after saying women in the party had become “so assertive” they may have to introduce “reverse quotas” for men.

The remarks, said in a Tuesday meeting of the NSW Liberal Women’s Council, triggered condemnation from federal Opposition leader Sussan Ley and state leader Mark Speakman.

Multiple sources confirmed the comments were made by Alan Stockdale, a former Victorian treasurer and Liberal Party president, who is one of three administrative committee members appointed in the federal take over of the NSW Liberals last year.

It’s understood Mr Stockdale told the meeting when quotas were being discussed that “The women in this party are so assertive now that we may need some special rules for men to get them pre-selected”.

Former President of the federal Liberal Party, Alan Stockdale. Picture: Julian Smith

Mr Stockdale on Wednesday told The Telegraph he “intended no disrespect”.

“Following a discussion of quotas, I made a light-hearted but poorly chosen remark. I certainly intended no disrespect to anyone, and I regret that people felt disrespected,” he said.

The Liberals’ 2025 federal election wipe out underscored the party’s continuing problems with women, with polling by Redbridge showing just 32 per cent of female voters in key outer suburban and regional electorates would vote for the Coalition.

A 2022 Liberal election review also found the majority of women preferred Labor in all age segments, with support for the Liberals weakest among women aged 18-34.

It’s understood Mr Stockdale also mentioned in the meeting “reverse quotas” would be needed for men.

When a discussion was held about whether the Women’s Council president should automatically remain on the party’s state executive as vice president, a member of the meeting raised concerns about the optics of abolishing the arrangement.

Administrative committee members Richard Alston (left) and Alan Stockdale as they appeared in the online meeting on Tuesday night. Picture: Supplied

Mr Stockdale, it’s understood, responded: “Good luck getting the media to care about it at all”.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley said her party “must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia and that means recognising the strength, merit and leadership of the women in our ranks”.

“There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman, in fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party,” she said.

NSW Liberal Women’s Council President Berenice Walker said she was “floored by the assertion that the women of our party were getting too assertive”.

“To go on and suggest that we may need reverse quotas to protect men is obtuse and further shows how out of touch the administrators are,” she said.

Former Women’s Council president and current NSW Liberal MP Jacqui Munro also hit out, saying women in the party “don’t need to be mansplained to about how our organisation should run”.

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

“It’s time for the administration committee to stop treating us like Rapunzels and let us get on with member-led party reform and winning the 2027 state election,” she said.

Charlotte Mortlock, the founder of Hilma’s Network which aims to promote women within the Liberal Party, criticised the language.

“I don’t believe Liberal men need any more help getting preselected than they already have. Historical data agrees,” she said.

The comments were also rebuked by NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman.

“Of course we don’t need reverse quotas for men. Women are 45 per cent of the NSW Liberal frontbench, and 45 per cent of the NSW Liberal party room,” he said.

“I welcome the talented, strong women who have joined our parliamentary ranks in recent years.”

NSW Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman. Photo: Gaye Gerard

It adds another chapter to terse discussions on whether the federal take over of the NSW Liberal division, which was enacted last year after the party bungled council nominations leading to 140 candidates missing out on running, will continue.

The term of the administrative committee, including Mr Stockdale, is due to expire on June 30 – with the party’s moderate faction pushing for it to end then, while elements of the right lobby for it to be extended.

’The trouble with women’s libs’ by Warren Brown

The three member committee, including Mr Stockdale and Howard-era communications Minister Richard Alston, was originally set to be male-only – only for former NSW Minister Rob Stokes to knock back an invite, with former NSW MP Peta Seaton then appointed.
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Originally published as Liberal Alan Stockdale apologises after saying women ‘are so assertive’