Are women voting with their vaginas?
This was the crux of a tense and truly nonsensical debate which erupted on Sky News this morning between Peta Credlin and her colleague Andrew Clennell.
The segment started with the findings of a new poll released by The Australian Financial Review that revealed a critical gender divide between young voters. The poll indicated that young men are far more likely to vote for Peter Dutton and the Coalition at the next election than women.
Indeed, women in the same age group of 18-34 were shown to be significantly more left-leaning with preferences toward Labor or the Greens.
“What do you think?” Credlin probed Clennell.
“I think I’ve said to you a couple of times now, Peta, that if Peter Dutton wants to win, all he has to do is do a couple of well, not all he has to do, but one thing he can do is a couple of women-friendly policies and win over 2 or 3 per cent of that voting cohort, and he’ll be in a lot better position to form government,” Clennell said.
An incensed Credlin, shot back: “What’s a women-friendly policy?” to which a fumbling Clennell awkwardly suggested “I’m not a woman”.
Credlin continued. “What’s a women’s friendly policy, mate? What’s a women’s friendly policy? Do you think we don’t know about the economy? We don’t care about defence?” she asked.
“You insult our intelligence. You insult our intelligence to think we don’t care about things that the men care about in the campaign.”
A clearly wounded Clennell reiterated “I am not a woman” (buddy, we know) but then proffered that Dutton could focus on “a couple of things in that area”.
“We don’t vote with our vaginas, mate,” Credlin said. “We don’t vote with our vaginas.”
“Well you’re the one who’s asking me about a gender difference, Peta. You raised it,” Clennell replied.
Credlin hit back, “Well I’m asking you about what can you read into it? And you’re saying that he’s got to have women’s policies to win women. I find that offensive. I find that offensive.”
Clennell then asked, “Well what’s your suggestion?”
“I think it’s about personality,” Credlin replied.
“It’s about the warmth. It’s about women feeling they can understand the bloke. It’s not about policies with a pink cover sheet.”
While Credlin’s right that women aren’t looking for policies with a “pink cover sheet”, she’s grossly wrong that all we’re hoping for is for Dutton to show some personality. (Truthfully, the thought of Dutton revealing any more of his personality is a truly terrifying prospect).
If these two supposed political heavweights engaged with women in any meaningful way they’d know that what we want from our government is some transparency, action and accountability on the issues that matter.
We want a government that will fund and take time to understand the growing crisis of domestic and family violence in this country. 2024 was one of our worst years on record with 101 women murdered.
We want a government that will lead on climate change and recognises that Australia’s average temperature has increased on average by 1.44 ± 0.24 °C since national records began in 1910. Multiple heatwave and bushfire warnings across the country are in place as I write this.
Crucially, young people want a government that cares about young people. That backs policies that support housing affordability, wage growth and cheaper education. A government that helps everyday people struggling with cost of living rather than one which regularly wines and dines with Gina Rinehart.
We want a government that backs diverse innovation and women’s health.
And we want a government that will foster inclusion and unity, not division and despair.
Perhaps our vaginas are the ones leading this kind of ideological pursuit. Or perhaps our brains are just telling us that we’re sick of constantly living in a society that doesn’t prioritise our needs. And that Peter Dutton and his nearly all-male dementors have never shown the faintest sign of getting that.
A couple of pink policies won’t cut it, Clennell. And Credlin, please keep Dutton’s personality tightly under wraps.