Lisa Wilkinson shares the five reasons Scott Morrison lost the election

Lisa Wilkinson has ripped into Scott Morrison following his election defeat while giving a nod to women’s rights activist Brittany Higgins after a barrage of female ‘teal’ independents kicked male Liberal MPs from their seats. 

Labor leader Anthony Albanese defeated Mr Morrison’s Liberal government on Saturday night and secured his place as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister. 

On Sunday morning, The Project host posted a happy snap featuring actor Simon Baker, and journalists Julia Baird and Jennifer Byrne, taken after the landmark win, with the caption: ‘Well, that was a fun night.’

‘This one’s for you, Brittany Higgins.’ 

Lisa Wilkinson has ripped into Scott Morrison following his election defeat while giving a nod to women’s rights activist Brittany Higgins after a barrage of female ‘teal’ independents kicked male Liberal MPs from their seats

Labor leader Anthony Albanese defeated Mr Morrison’s Liberal government on Saturday night and secured his place as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister

On Sunday morning, The Project host posted a happy snap featuring actor Simon Baker, and journalists Julia Baird and Jennifer Byrne, taken after the landmark win, with the caption: ‘Well, that was a fun night’

Wilkinson said in another tweet she was unsurprised Mr Morrison was kicked out of the top job as she slammed him for paying little attention to national issues such as women’s rights.

‘Last night’s result proves that if you look the other way when it comes to women, the planet, corruption, bad behaviour and a refugee family who want to do nothing more than live a safe life in a country town that loves them, change is always going to happen,’ she wrote. 

Ms Higgins, who made headlines after alleging that she was raped by a former Liberal staffer inside Parliament House in Canberra in 2019, responded: ‘Such a huge result!’

‘Amazing to see such an incredible group of independent women move into Parliament.’

The 27-year-old was referring to a number of ‘teal’ independents who steamrolled sitting Liberal MPs who previously sat very comfortably in inner-city seats.

The independents who won were female, and most of them displaced a male Liberal candidate. 

Those projected to gain seats include Allegra Spender (Wentworth), Monique Ryan (Kooyong), Sophie Scamps (Mackeller), Kylea Tink (North Sydney), Kate Chaney (Curtin) and Zoe Daniel (Goldstein).

Former high-profile conservative Julie Bishop told Nine News on Saturday that the ‘teal bath’, as labelled by Former Liberal Party member Tony Barry, happened because female Liberal voters didn’t see their concerns reflected by the Liberal party.

Ms Higgins, who made headlines after alleging that she was raped by a former Liberal staffer inside Parliament House in Canberra in 2019, responded to Wilkinson’s post: ‘Such a huge result!’

Wilkinson said in another tweet she was unsurprised Mr Morrison was kicked out of the top job as she slammed him for paying little attention to national issues such as women’s rights

Ms Bishop said that Ms Higgins and former Australian Of The Year, Grace Tame, helped pave the way for the historic wins. 

‘We have not mentioned at this point the impact of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins, they changed the narrative when they exposed an ugly side to the workplace in Canberra,’ she said.

‘That resonated with women.’ 

A number of mostly female, ‘teal’ independents are on track to roll sitting Liberal MPs, predominantly in inner-city seats, having made climate action and a federal anti-corruption agency the centrepieces of their campaigns. 

Experts say the landmark win was largely due to a number of ‘frustrated’ female voters opting for the Greens party or ‘teal’ independents because they did not see their concerns and interests reflected in a party led by Mr Morrison.   

Wilkinson previously slammed the now-former Prime Minister for his lacklustre response to Higgins’ allegations that she was raped by a former Liberal staffer in former defence minister Linda Reynolds’ office in Canberra in March 2019.

Mr Morrison publicly apologised to Ms Higgins, via the media, and announced that there would be an investigation into workplace culture at Parliament House – but many claimed it was long-overdue.

Wilkinson previously slammed the now-former Prime Minister for his lacklustre response to Higgins’ allegations that she was raped by a former Liberal staffer in former defence minister Linda Reynolds’ office in Canberra in March 2019

Ms Wilkinson also accused male federal officials of ‘hiding behind steam-cleaned suits’ rather than taking action against gendered violence, and has campaigned for a government change alongside Higgins.

‘If everything Brittany told us is true, Parliament House appears to the be the easiest place in this country to rape women and get away with it,’ she told a crowd of protestors on the lawn of Parliament House in 2020. 

‘None of of were shocked when behind the scenes Brittany was branded a lying cow,’ she said, referencing Ms Higgins’ then-boss Defence Minister Linda Reynolds who made the slur within earshot of colleagues in her office.

‘Brittany feels those forces have done everything they can to take her power away, but Brittany Higgins will not be silenced.’