The decision of Queensland LNP members to dump incumbent assistant minister Jane Prentice as its candidate in the seat of Ryan has drawn some backlash from several senior figures in the Turnbull government.
Over the weekend, the LNP voted to replace Ms Prentice with Brisbane City councillor Julian Simmonds, in a decision that has reignited debate over the Coalition’s promotion of women in party ranks.
The Coalition only has 22 women among its 105 elected members and senators, while Labor has nearly twice as many with 42 among 90 members.
The decision even went against the prime minister's personal preference, with Malcolm Turnbull revealing he was among those who backed Jane Prentice to keep her endorsement.
"We both lent her our support in the pre-selection," Mr Turnbull said, standing next to defence minister Marise Payne at an event in Sydney.
"We’re very sorry to see Jane’s been defeated, but this is the consequence of having a grassroots political party."
Queensland colleagues outraged as gender debate resurfaces
Fellow Coalition Queenslander, Michelle Landry, said she was "totally appalled" at Ms Prentice's dumping.
"We've hardly got any federal females in Queensland in the government and one has been pushed aside by a young male," she told the ABC.
She claimed young women in the party had threatened to resign, but said she urged them to stay and fight for better representation.
Warren Entsch, an outspoken Queensland member of the Turnbull government, said the decision was a “bloody disgrace”.
"It sends a very, very bad message with regards to women in politics in Queensland,” Queensland Coalition MP Warren Entsch told ABC Radio on Monday morning.
Assistant minister Jane Prentice has lost pre-selection for her Brisbane seat of Ryan. (AAP) Source: AAP
Cabinet members backed Prentice
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was “personally very disappointed” by the outcome.
But he cited the recent appointment of Brisbane barrister Amanda Stoker, who replaced former attorney-general George Brandis in the Senate.
Georgina Downer, the daughter of former foreign minister Alexander Downer, has nominated for Coalition pre-selection in the upcoming Mayo by-election.
Ms Prentice lost the Ryan pre-selection to Brisbane City councillor Julian Simmonds in a popular vote of LNP rank-and-file members.
Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton was at the meeting, and said there was no "factional play" to skew the results. He said the result reflected the choice of more than 350 people who attended, "many" of whom were women.
Mr Dutton also said he personally voted for Ms Prentice to retain her position.
"I provided her a reference and support at her pre-selection," Mr Dutton said.
"We're very much, in the LNP, minded to encouraging women into parliament whenever possible. But the LNP has a democratic process in place," he said.
'Canberra shouldn't be telling Queensland what to do'
Treasurer Scott Morrison said the decision was a result of a competitive ballot and urged Canberra not to intervene in the processes of the Queensland branch.
“Canberra shouldn't be telling Queensland what to do,” Mr Morrison said on Monday morning. “It's Queenslanders who are deciding who are representing us here in Queensland.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten conceded he has not always seen eye-to-eye with Ms Prentice but described her as a "formidable presence", encouraging Mr Turnbull to intervene and save her position.
"How the Queensland LNP conduct their affairs is ultimately a matter for them," Mr Shorten said.
But the opposition leader said the choice reflected poorly on the LNP's commitment to female representation.
"A political party that's only picking two Queensland women for the 21 winnable seats that the LNP currently hold is a political party which doesn't seem to take the contribution of women in politics very seriously."
