This chapter examines the Liberal Party of Australia’s longstanding gender crisis, brought into sharp focus by revelations from Sharman Stone and Julie Bishop about a self‑described 'big swinging dicks' group within the party, and by Brittany Higgins’ 2021 allegations of sexual assault in Parliament House. The Coalition’s dismissive response intensified public anger and contributed to a significant shift among women voters in the 2022 federal election. Challenging the common framing of a Liberal 'woman problem', the chapter argues instead that the party faces a problem with men—rooted in its refusal to adopt gender quotas, persistent preselection of men in safe seats, and a neoliberal, socially conservative approach to gender equality. It analyses three dimensions of this crisis: women’s underrepresentation, declining female voter support, and a toxic internal culture. The chapter concludes by assessing the post‑2022 shift toward the reactionary right under Peter Dutton and its implications for the party’s future.
