Kellie Sloane has been elected as the new leader of the NSW Liberal Party, making her the third woman within the year to step into a leadership role vacated by a man. A Monash expert is available to talk about the growing trend of moderate female MPs being elected to leadership positions within the Liberal Party, and whether it represents the party’s attempt to address its ‘women’ problem, or a classic case of the glass cliff.
Available for comment:
Dr Blair Williams, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash School of Social Sciences
Contact: +61 431 067 541 or [email protected]
“We have seen the leadership ascension of three moderate women in three Liberal parties in the last six months. This could be considered as a ‘glass cliff’ scenario, as it comes at a time when the Liberal Party brand is struggling to connect with Australians, especially women and young people. This move behind moderate women leaders is their best bet at appealing to these voters to remain electorally relevant.
“The ascension of both Jess Wilson in Victoria and Kellie Sloane in NSW comes at a time when the federal party is in shambles and Ley’s authority has been repeatedly undermined by the conservative faction. The Liberal Party needs to unite to support these moderate women leaders in a push to move back toward the centre, otherwise these are simply empty gestures.
“The change in leaders will not heal the parties overnight, nor should we expect Wilson or Sloane to miraculously clean up the mess left by her forebears over many decades. Nonetheless, it sends a message to voters that the NSW and Victorian Liberal parties are beginning to confront their longstanding problems with women and young people.”
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