A South Australian Liberal Party member who considered running as an independent in a blue-ribbon seat has joined a party task force that aims to help engage, support and create more opportunities for women.
Chelsey Potter nominated for pre-selection for the Bragg by-election only to be knocked back by the Liberal Party, which led her to seriously consider running as an independent in the seat formerly held by deputy premier Vickie Chapman.
Ms Potter has spoken publicly about being allegedly sexually assaulted by another Liberal Party staffer when they were both working in Canberra in 2015.
Since then, she has been openly critical of the party's response to her alleged assault, and wider issues affecting women in politics.
'An awful lot to do'
Ms Potter today said she had several conversations with Liberal leader David Speirs in recent days about her experience as a woman in the Liberal Party.
"I stand by every single comment I've made in that regard … I had a very robust conversation with the leader last night and over the past few days, lots of home truths being spoken," Ms Potter said.
"This isn't about me. This is about the future of women in this state. This is about a healthy two-party system that has a health relationship with women, and the Liberal Party has an awful lot to do to get there.
The task force will look at creating more opportunities and pathways for women within the party, with gender quotas also set to be considered.
"Everything is on the table … we have to talk to the membership and we have to take the women of the party with us on this," she said.
"I've said in the past that quotas do work. I'm not sure if they work for the Liberal Party. But everything is on the table and I'm really heartened by that."
Mr Speirs said the task force would report directly to him on ways to improve the number of women in the party.
He said there were six women in his shadow cabinet and women made up 60 per cent of the party's representation in the upper house, but there were significant problems to address.
"We need to aspire for better, for our mums and our daughters and our nieces and all the women in our lives, because we need a parliamentary party that reflects all of South Australia," Mr Speirs said.
Mr Speirs said Ms Potter's decision not to run in Bragg did make it easier for the party, which pre-selected Jack Batty in the safe Liberal seat.
"If Chelsey isn't running in Bragg of course it's in my view a more straightforward path for the Liberal Party, but we need reform here," he said.
"This isn't about papering over the cracks for a short period of time.
"I want to lead a party that reflects all of South Australia."
Mr Speirs was part of the Liberal Party state executive which made the decision to not allow Ms Potter to nominate for pre-selection.
"Perhaps we didn't make the right decision … I am very regretful for some of the experiences that Chelsey has had in the party historically, but we have to look to the future," he said.
"I want to welcome Chelsey back into this party because she has a particular perspective about how we can do better and it's time we listened to that perspective.
The task force will be chaired by upper house MP Nicola Centofanti, who said engaging women at all levels would be crucial.
"We need to find pathways to allow women to access our grassroots party but also ensure that we create pathways for women to ensure that they have the opportunity to put their hand up to get pre-selected and then elected in to safe seats," Ms Centofanti said.
The task force of 12 women will also include former federal Liberal MP Trish Worth, former state Liberal MP Carolyn Power and long-serving upper house MP Caronline Schaefer.
