New Liberal Senator Jess Collins Says Gender Balance Should Be Based on Merit, Not Quotas
Newly elected Liberal senator Jess Collins has made waves within her party by pushing back against calls for gender quotas, insisting that female representation should come from merit rather than imposed targets. Her comments come amid ongoing debates about how the Liberal Party should improve its appeal and performance ahead of the next election.
Collins Takes a Stand Against Quotas and Factional Politics
Jess Collins, who was elected to the Senate in May after a fierce preselection battle, is aligned with senior party figures like Angus Taylor and Anthony Roberts. She recently criticized factional bosses and party leakers in the NSW branch, arguing that pushing for gender quotas is the wrong strategy to take on Labor.
In a message to her constituents, Collins described the Coalition’s recent election loss as “devastating” and suggested that better campaign efforts by strategists and former leader Peter Dutton might have helped elect more women — but that quotas are not the answer.
The Merit-Based Approach vs. Quotas Debate
Collins’ comments highlight the tension within the Liberal Party between those advocating for binding gender quotas to boost female representation and those who believe selections should be based on individual ability and achievement.
The debate intensified after party figure Alan Stockdale’s controversial remark that Liberal women were “sufficiently assertive” and that quotas might even need to apply to men. Collins criticized the leaks of these comments, calling them damaging to party unity and counterproductive.
What This Means for the Liberal Party
As new party leader Sussan Ley pushes for reform and some moderates back quotas, Collins’ stance represents a faction of the party that prefers to focus on candidate quality over mandated gender targets. The debate over how to modernize the party and win back voters continues to divide opinion among Liberals.
Looking Ahead
With the next federal election looming, how the Liberal Party addresses gender balance could play a key role in its future success. Collins’ voice adds to a growing conversation about meritocracy, party culture, and the best path forward for the Coalition.
