Michelle Rowland: Communications Minister says Peter Dutton ‘stuck in the past’ over female representation

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of being “stuck in the past” over female representation in the Coalition.

Ms Rowland took a swipe at Mr Dutton after a report in the Australian Financial Review that said the Liberal Party had chosen just one woman and six men for seats held by retiring MPs in safe seats, renewing concerns the party was not making enough progress to address a gender imbalance.

“It’s par for the course when it comes to the Liberal Party. Clearly, Peter Dutton talks a big game when it comes to these issues, but the reality is borne out by the fact that they continue to overlook women for public office,” Ms Rowland told ABC Radio National Breakfast.

The AFR report pointed to the north Sydney seat of Bradfield as one example where conservatives and moderates were at odds over whether anti-Voice activist Nyunggai Warren Mundine or technology executive Gisele Kapterian should replace retiring frontbencher Paul Fletcher.

The Liberal Party has been criticised over its failure to front more women, who make up about 30 per cent of its MPs and senators. This compares to 52 per cent of Labor seats held by women.

“Labor has had for decades now a policy of affirmative action that’s reflected in Prime Minister Albanese’s cabinet, in our caucus overall,” said Ms Rowland.

A post-election review by former federal party director Brian Loughnane and Victorian senator Jane Hume recommended that the party adopt targets for 50 per cent representation in its federal party and senior ranks within a decade.

Ms Hume defended Peter Dutton’s record, telling the AFR that he had led by example, “with a record number of women around the decision-making table in his shadow cabinet.”

She added: “At the same time there has been significant progress made by the state divisions in the preselection of some extraordinary women to run as candidates in 2025, particularly in winnable seats.”

Responding to the accusations at a Queensland press conference, Mr Dutton said the Party had “a democratically based process where our members make decisions about who the candidates will be,” in contrast to the “faceless union bosses” who decided Labor Party candidates.

“Communities respond to local members who have an affinity with their community…who have a real passion about fighting for the priorities of their local community,” he said.

“Yes, of course, we want to see more women running in seats, and we have some incredible candidates,” he added.