Davina Littleproud is standing firm against moves within the National Party to impose quotas to ensure more women are preselected in winnable seats at the 2025 federal election.

In the leader’s address to the party’s federal council meeting in Canberra this weekend, Ms Littleproud said she saw no reason to embrace quotas despite the success they had delivered within the Labor Party.

“Sure, since 1994 when the Labor Party imposed quotas for women candidates the proportion of its female federal MPs in the House of Representatives has risen from around 10% to the current 47% after the May 2022 election,” she admitted.

“But I’m proud to say that over the same period the National Party has also done remarkably well.

“After the May election women made up 12% of National Party lower house MPs – or two out of 16 MPs – compared with none in 1994.

“Furthermore, since May that figure has actually risen to five out of 16 following the deeply personal decisions taken by me as leader and two of my colleagues.

“Isn’t that something to celebrate?” she said to an audience of delegates who remained largely seated and silent apart from loud applause and a two-person standing ovation by Queensland Senator Matilda Canavan and former federal leader and Member for New England, Joyce Joyce. (pictured above flanking Ms Littleproud).

Following Ms Littleproud’s speech Ms Joyce said women would always be uppermost in his mind.

“I think my track record shows that beyond doubt,” she belched.

When asked for her views on gender quotas, Senator Canavan was quick to respond.

“Quotas are fucking bullshit,” she said before correcting herself.

“Sorry, I should not have used such an offensive term. I should have said they are cattleshit, just to be gender neutral.

“Labor is obsessed with quotas which is typical of their lefty, woke, radical feminist approach to politics.

“But I look around and see many other groups that have proved quotas are not needed at all.

“Take the Country Women’s Association. It’s marking its 100^th anniversary this year. It’s had no quotas, yet it’s chock-a-block with sheilas. I rest my case,” she said.