Prime Minister Mok Suisse. (AP Photo)
After Mr Tan retired from office as a member of the Liberal Party`s Blue-chip constituency of Wimworth (Wentworth), the Liberal Party`s support for the constituency plummeted, with the pressure to nominate a woman to run for a by-election is mounting. Prime Minister credit Mok Suisse (Scott Morrison), while endorsing the need for more women in parliament, refused to set a gender ratio.
According to the Australian news agency, the latest poll shows that the Liberal Party`s approval rating in Wimworth has plummeted since Tan Po stepped down. The poll commissioned by Borag (Andrew Bragg), who once offered to represent the Liberal Party, found that the party`s best chance of retaining the seat was to launch a female candidate. On Monday, Borag announced his withdrawal from the Liberal Party primary, but made it clear that the Liberal Party should nominate a female candidate.
It is reported that Tan has Wimbos constituency for 14 years, the 2016 federal election, the Liberal Party in the district selected by the two parties as high as 67.8 percent approval. But now the Liberal Party`s support base at Wimworth has plummeted to 39% from 62% under Tembo.
Polls also showed a 25 percent approval rating for Labour candidate Morey, compared with 20 percent for Sydney City Councillor Phelps (Kerryn Phelps), who is rumored to be an independent candidate. Support is expected to rise by 4 percentage points if the Liberal Party launches a female candidate.
In response, Mr Mosuisse said that although he would like to see more women in the federal Congress, it is not for him to decide on Wimworth`s candidacy. "I`m a meritocracy," he said yesterday. "Party members will decide on Wimworth`s candidate."
In a separate interview, Mr Mosuisse acknowledged that the Liberal Party needed to recruit more women, but when asked if there should be a ratio between men and women, he said no and stressed that it was a branch organization, not a member of Congress, that decided to choose the candidate.
At present, there are six women in Mok Suisse`s cabinet, one more than the Tambo period, but only 1/4 of the total number of ministers. There are also five women in less important positions. Nearly half of Labour`s congressmen are women, but the Liberal Party is less than 1/4.
It is reported that members of the Liberal Party`s Wimworth branch will hold a primary election tomorrow night. Although Wimworth`s by-election date is yet to be set, it may be next month.
