Retiring senator Linda Reynolds criticises Liberal Party after heavy election defeatBy Grace BurmasGBy Greig JohnstonABC Radio PerthTopic:Elections2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 1:34amSenator Linda Reynolds has been scathing in her assessment of the Liberal Party campaign. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)abc.net.au/news/senator-linda-reynolds-scathing-liberal-party-election-loss/105252896Link copiedShareShare articleRetiring Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has labelled the party's federal election campaign a "comprehensive failure" partly attributable to its lack of effort in increasing female representation. The WA Liberals had hoped to reverse some of the losses from the 2022 election, but the party only retained four WA seats, while the seat of Bullwinkel remains locked in a tight battle.Labor managed to wrest the seat of Moore from the Liberals for the first time in 38 years, and the Liberals failed to win back blue-ribbon Curtin from teal independent Kate Chaney.Senator Reynolds said the party had failed to learn from past mistakes."The seeds of our current situation have been long coming and require no sugar coating," she told ABC Radio Perth.Linda Reynolds described the party's election campaign as a "comprehensive failure". (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)"You can see through successive reviews in federal and state in terms of where we have taken the wrong turn but we haven't comprehensively understood those lessons and we certainly haven't implemented the reforms that are needed."It was a comprehensive failure."The women problemThe lack of women among the Liberal's candidates should be at the top of the party's reforms according to the former Liberal minister.Senator Reynolds was read a text message from an ABC Radio Perth listener, describing the Liberals as an "ocean of males", to which she replied: "I totally agree.""It's one of the issues I have been fighting for, for a very long time in the Liberal Party," the senator said."Ten years ago I was part of a review into gender … and we recommended targets and how to get there without quotas. Two undecided WA seats give unique insight into what voters thoughtPhoto shows A group of Labor supporters in red shirts look above the camera while a man raises his hands in the air.Unlike 2022, Western Australia won't determine the outcome of the election — that is done and dusted — but the seats of Fremantle and Bullwinkel are coming down to the wire."That's been the Liberal Party policy for 10 years but it's just sat on a shelf."We do have to have the hard conversations now about how we become more gender balanced but also a broader diversity."Senator Reynolds said the Liberal Party had drifted a long way from its origins as a party which traditionally attracted female voters."In fact, until 2001 the majority of Australian women voted for the Liberal Party, and that seems almost inconceivable now."So we have to understand why women have turned away from our party and change."Senator Reynolds said she was confident the party could get back on track but said it would be "deluded" if it didn't see the significant changes that need to be made.Peter Dutton led the Coalition to a heavy election defeat, and lost his own seat of Dickson. (ABC News: Matt Roberts )"People are just not relating to us," she said."We really do have a lot of work to do. "I firmly believe that our values are just as relevant today as they have been, but one we haven't been focused enough on them, and we certainly haven't been focused enough on 'how do we communicate that effectively to people across our community?'"We need to find a new way to communicate that. But to do that, we've got to be united."New leader should be womanAs the party searches for a new leader following Peter Dutton's loss in his seat of Dixon, several names are being touted as potential replacements. While WA MP Andrew Hastie is one contender, a potential pairing of Angus Taylor with Jane Hume as his deputy has also been reported. But Senator Reynolds threw her support behind current deputy leader Sussan Ley. Linda Reynolds feels Sussan Ley would be a "healing" leader for the Liberal Party. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)"I am very favourably disposed towards Sussan Ley, who I think would be a great and a very healing and receptive leader for our party," Senator Reynolds said."I'll have a look to see who does put their hand up, but I would certainly like to see a woman up."Religious right influenceMs Reynolds was also scathing about the influence of the religious right on the WA Liberal Party, where a group of factional powerbrokers know as The Clan have damaged the party's reputation.Principle gives way to reality as Nick Goiran takes on shadow Liberal rolesPhoto shows A man in a shirt and tie smiling. Two years after removing Nick Goiran from the shadow cabinet over leaked WhatsApp messages, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam re-appoints him — but is is a shrewd political move or a deal to save her leadership?The Clan included the likes of former federal finance minister Mathias Cormann, former federal WA Liberal MP Ian Goodenough and WA Upper House MPs Peter Collier and Nick Goiran, a vocal conservative Christian.When asked about the influence of The Clan and the religious right, Ms Reynolds agreed factions had too much influence in the party. "You see across the country, in the Liberal Party that ... factions have become more important than the party itself," she said."[The religious right is] still very strong here in the Liberal Party, it hasn't gone away. "There is still a very strong conservative movement in the party that needs to be addressed and needs to be balanced, because it does not represent mainstream Australian and West Australian values."LoadingPosted 2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 1:34am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 3:03amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleFirst Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereAAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows man with a bald head and glasses faces a man with blond hairOutgoing Liberals blast Angus Taylor, party's lack of womenTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows Hollie Hughes dstopPopular nowLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseJacqui Lambie battling Pauline Hanson's daughter Lee for Senate spotTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A woman with blonde hair in a composite with a woman with brunette hair.Senator seeks retraction of claim she booed voters taking Labor flyersTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Bridget McKenzie speaks outside, with two people visible behind her, and a row of trees.Related topicsElectionsGovernment and PoliticsPerthState and Territory GovernmentState and Territory ParliamentTop StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsFirst Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereAAnalysis by Alan KohlerOutgoing Liberals blast Angus Taylor, party's lack of womenTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaJust InRevolver nightclub groper avoids jail after assaulting 17 womenTopic:Sexual Offences7m ago7 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:05amAlbanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal Government13m ago13 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:00amYouth to drive Popovic's Socceroos, but one rising star is yet to commitTopic:Socceroos29m ago29 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 3:43amHeritage push for phone box that was lifeline during bushfiresTopic:Information and Communication32m ago32 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 3:40amMore Just InBack to top