Push for women to fill Senate vacancies

A Liberal MP says the party should consider replacing two of the party's senators who are both retiring to take on ambassadorial roles, with women.

Sarah Henderson

Liberal Trent Zimmerman says women such as MP Sarah Henderson should fill upcoming Senate vacancies. (AAP)

The Liberal Party should ensure two retiring male senators are replaced by women, a Liberal MP says.

NSW Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos is quitting the upper house to be the next ambassador to Washington, while Senator Mitch Fifield from Victoria is heading to the United Nations in New York.

Their resignations will trigger casual vacancies in the Senate to be filled by the Liberal Party.

There is a strong internal push for Sarah Henderson, who lost her Victorian seat of Corangamite at the May 18 election, to replace Senator Fifield.

NSW Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said it was an opportunity to increase the number of women in parliament.

"There is a lot of attractiveness in putting a female candidate into the Senate in both Victoria and NSW," Mr Zimmerman told ABC TV on Tuesday.

Henderson is "a phenomenal parliamentarian, made a significant contribution on the federal stage, and I know all of my colleagues would love to see her back in whatever capacity is possible."

Some conservative NSW Liberals want Jim Molan, who is likely to lose his Senate seat at the election, to fill Senator Sinodinos' vacancy.

Senator Molan was put in an unwinnable place on the party's Senate ticket and ran a campaign to secure "under the line" votes - which rankled many within the NSW division including Mr Zimmerman.

"He (Senator Molan) was within the bounds of the party's constitutional requirements - but do I think it was appropriate? No," Mr Zimmerman said.

Senator Molan's campaign meant party volunteers had to be diverted and voters were confused.

The NSW division should change its rules to ensure a Senate candidate can only campaign for the position for which they are selected, Mr Zimmerman said.

Asked about the vacancy, Senator Molan told Sky News he would not rule anything in or out.

"It's about numbers, let's see who's got the numbers."


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Source: AAP



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