Opposition treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor warns against gender-based quotas for the Liberal Party

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has welcomed a push from within the Liberal Party to introduce a 50 per cent target to preselect women but has ruled out enacting quotas.

Over the weekend Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley urged her state counterparts to officially set targets of getting women preselected in half of the seats, according to the Nine papers.

Pointing to the electoral defeat suffered at the May election, Ms Ley said the party has to accept it didn’t meet the expectations of women.

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“Not just in the teal seats, because I hear that when I speak to women all over Australia,” she said.

“Women were unhappy and they didn’t support us. I’ve heard it in my own electorate.

“I’ve heard it in rural and regional Australia. I hear it from those women’s fathers and their grandfathers.”

Mr Taylor said although he wants more women being preselected, he is against quotas.

“I’m a strong supporter of having more women being pre-selected in the Liberal Party,” he told Insiders.

“I don’t support quotas and I note that Sussan hasn’t put that forward.

Mr Taylor however said “really careful” work will need to be undertaken to achieve the preselection target.

“I think we should support getting more women in, and 50 per cent is absolutely right,” he said.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s going to require really careful work being done by senior people.

“I see, as we approach the New South Wales election, very good work is being done in this area. But it needs to continue.”

The Albanese governments boasts a record 10 women in cabinet – the highest figure in Australian history.

“This is the largest number of women ever in an Australian cabinet with 10 women in the cabinet,” the Prime Minister said following the election.

“In addition to that there are 13 women in the ministry and 19 frontbenchers.

“A record number, in all three categories for women’s representation – in cabinet, in the ministry and frontbench positions.”

The Coalition’s junior partner, The Nationals, have ruled out introducing quotas.

Leader David Littleproud said his party’s frontbench has even representation, which is not due to quotas.

“I support more women being elected into Parliament, I think what we’d like to do and what we’ve done as the National Party is created that environment whereby women are given the opportunity to stand up and feel encouraged to stand up,” he said.

“My frontbench if 50-50 and that hasn’t been because I put a quota –that’s because of the talent, that’s because of the opportunity that we’ve provided.”