Liberal women have seized power in three states. Is this a new era for a party known for its ‘woman problem’?

Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson is a first-term MP who describes herself as a ‘small-l Liberal’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

For the first time in its history, the Liberal party is now led by first-term MPs in three states – and all of them are women.

Ashton Hurn in South Australia, Kellie Sloane in New South Wales and Jess Wilson in Victoria have each risen rapidly to the leadership in the past three weeks. They’ve joined the federal leader, Sussan Ley, and the NT’s Lia Finocchiaro in an unprecedented lineup for a party long accused of having a “women problem”.