When a Diplomacy Gambit Wins: Morrison’s Party Picks a Male Ex‑Ambassador Over a Woman
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison found his own caucus leaning a bit sideways on Friday. Instead of his requested female candidate, the Liberal Party slipped a former diplomat into the running for Wentworth, a seat that used to belong to the man he ousted in last month’s leadership screed.
The Tuf‑Texas Backslide
Wentworth — a cosy blue‑ribbon constituency that stretches from Bondi Beach all the way to the glittering Sydney Harbour — is a bastion of Liberal power. Losing it would mean Morrison will need to open lunch‑room negotiations with the five independent MPs who have pledged their backing until the by‑election.
The Big Shake: Turnbull Goes Home
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull decided to dip out of Parliament following the internal party vote that toppled him, ushering in a new era of leadership turbulence. The resignation carved a hole in the government’s one‑seat majority, temporarily leaving the centre‑right coalition in the open. With Australian voters still buzzing from frequent leadership shuffles, polls hint this could become permanent.
Sharma’s Secret Sauce
Dave Sharma, once the Australian ambassador to Israel, was the pick that made folks cheer in the backstage of the Liberal caucus. The stalwarts of the party — former Prime Ministers Turnbull and John Howard — gave him a thumbs‑up. Morrison, however, wanted a woman in the seat, citing a need for more female voices in Parliament.
[Twitter excerpt] “Of course, I want to see more Liberal women in parliament, but I always want to see the best candidate selected.” — Scott Morrison
His preference seemed to counter the now‑buzzing allegations that some backbench women felt pressured to back his rival-to-Turnbull camp, a controversy that has widened concerns over gender diversity inside the government.
Gender Pings and Party Friction
Former Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop slammed the party earlier this week for having fewer than a quarter of its MPs as women. This shows how the inside politics are hitting a clash‑of‑culture moment.
Election Mathematics
While Sharma is expected to snag the highest vote share, the ousting of Turnbull — a popular social liberal — could alter voter flows. In Australia’s complex preferential voting system, votes can tip towards opposition or micro‑party candidates, upending the safe‑seat narrative.
Extra‑Trivia: The New South Wales Twist
- Just a week ago, the party suffered a 29‑percent swing against it in a statewide by‑vote, losing a formerly safe seat to an independent in New South Wales.
- That result showed the voter’s eyes are on the party’s ability to keep its “real” identity amidst swift leadership chaos.
Endgame: Where’s This Going?
If the Liberals cannot hold on to Wentworth, Morrison will have to manoeuvre a fresh deal with the independents to keep his lease on the Hall of Fame. Whether Sharma can adjust the diplomatic chord for the electorate, or the lack of female voices will prove decisive, remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Australian political climate looks more ruffled than a rooster on a hot day.
