‘Crusty old codger’: Bridget McKenzie and Annastacia Palaszczuk slam senior Alan Stockdale’s comments on women

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

‘Crusty old codger’: Bridget McKenzie and Annastacia Palaszczuk slam senior Alan Stockdale’s comments on women

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have hit back at the “out of touch” comments by a senior Liberal Party member regarding women’s involvement in the party.

The pair responded to the remarks of former party president Alan Stockdale, joined by former senator Richard Alston, who told the NSW Liberal Women’s Council that “women are sufficiently assertive now” and “that we should be giving some thought to whether we need to protect men’s involvement”.

It’s understood Mr Stockdale also mentioned in the meeting that “reverse quotas” would be needed for men, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Camera IconAdministrative committee members Richard Alston (left) and Alan Stockdale as they appeared in the online meeting on Tuesday night. Image: supplied Credit: Supplied

When asked about the remarks by Today’s Karl Stefanovic, Senator McKenzie said it was simply “shocking”.

“I hope women are assertive, as they represent their communities, they fight for the future of their countries, and I think Anastasia and I’ll be on a unity ticket on this,” Senator McKenzie said on Thursday morning.

“It was in my Senate room where 80 per cent of the senators are women, and they were all in shadow cabinet, and the guys weren’t.

“I think it’s time for Alan to head back to the Melbourne club … and chat with the old boys about what went wrong.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Stefanovic asked Ms Palaszczuk whether there should instead be a quota on “crusty old codgers”, adding “if your eyebrows have elbows, then is it time to be euthanised from the party?”

The former Queensland premier said she couldn’t believe what had been said.

“I can’t believe this. I mean, you finally got one step forward for the Liberal Party with Sussan Ley being elected, and it’s three steps backwards with these comments,” she added.

“These are not appropriate in this day and age.

“Honestly, the Liberal Party needs a good, hard look at themselves and especially the men.

“I mean, there are good women coming through all different political parties, and this guy is out of touch – and there’s no room for this in today’s modern society.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

The Liberals’ disastrous 2025 federal election campaign pointed to the party’s continuing problems with women.

Redbridge polling showed just 32 per cent of female voters in key outer suburban and regional electorates would vote for the Coalition, while a 2022 Liberal election review found that the majority of women preferred Labor in all age segments.

Support for the Liberals was the weakest among women aged 18-34.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Crusty #codger #Bridget #McKenzie #Annastacia #Palaszczuk #slam #senior #Alan #Stockdales #comments #women

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up