Woman’s advocate Charlotte Mortlock quits Liberal party after Sussan Ley’s ousting by Angus Taylor
Former Coalition staffer and women’s advocate Charlotte Mortlock has resigned, days after Sussan Ley was ousted from her position by Angus Taylor.
Charlotte Mortlock, the high-profile former Coalition staffer and leader of grassroots organisation Hilma’s Network, has left the Liberal party, just days after Sussan Ley was ousted by Angus Taylor.
Hilma’s Network was created by Mortlock to bring “Liberal-minded” women together and push the party to preselect more women. She has been a vocal advocate for modernisation within the Liberal party, including support for net zero targets, and was part of a small team that designed a plan for gender quotas in New South Wales preselections.
Mortlock announced her departure from both the network and the party in a statement on Sunday morning:
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I have decided the time has come for me to step down as executive director of Hilma’s Network and I have also relinquished my Liberal party membership.”
“I founded Hilma’s four years ago and am incredibly proud of all we have achieved, mainly the many women we supported across the country throughout preselections and elections.
“From inception, we quickly grew to multiple states hosting events that challenged the Party to evolve.
“Due to recent events I have decided there are other ways I can support women and Australia.”
She said she was proud of the women Hilma’s Network had supported through preselections and elections, and of hosting events that “challenged the party to evolve.”
Charlotte Mortlock founded Hilma’s Network in 2021 to boost female representation in the Liberal party.
She worked on the proposal to have gender quotas in the party, which was recently dumped by the NSW branch.
Mr Taylor toppled Ms Ley 34 votes to 17 in the ballot, ending her tenure after only nine months.
Shortly after the spill, Ms Ley revealed she would spend the coming weeks in her regional NSW electorate of Farrer before resigning from parliament.
A by-election will then be needed to choose a new MP for Farrer in what looms as a significant early test for Mr Taylor.
He will need to prove he can stave off challenges from independents and One Nation, which has been polling above the coalition.
- with AAP
