Abbott says Liberals need more women MPs

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has embraced targets for female representation in his party, saying the party risks disconnect with voters if it fails to bring more women into the fold.

Mr Shorten said the prime minister had given into extreme right-wing voices in his party and denied his MPs the chance to vote with their conscience.

Mr Abbott said he commissioned the Liberal’s Federal Vice President Rosemary Craddock to report to the party’s executive on how to increase representation, which he “hoped” would recommend a target system, such as those operating in the private sector.

“To be serious about winning elections, we must be more serious about engaging, pre-selecting and sending to parliament the representatives of 50 per cent of the electorate”.

He agreed with a new discussion paper undertaken by the Menzies Research Centre, that pointed out the lack of female representation is reducing the party’s “capacity to reach voters”.

An internal party report is being prepared to make the Liberal Party more representative and Mr Abbott said he hoped it will include specific steps and targets to lift female parliamentary numbers.

The 26-year-old actor best known for the TV-series Packed to the Rafters called the ruling Coalition’s refusal of a conscience vote on marriage equality “a disgrace”, as news emerged that the PM is also refusing to intervene between warring ministers.

“Naturally I do acknowledge there are difference between men and women but when it comes to political aspiration, we’re just not that unalike”.

“It’s hard to believe that politically committed and meritorious Liberal conservative men outnumber like-minded women by at least four to one”, he said.

“Our party must always be a welcoming forum for women to argue their case, to win on their merits and to realise their ambitions because they are very good at their job”.