Opposition leaders encouraged "confident women" to join the liberals, responsive to the controversial comments of a party elder.

Sussan Ley, the coalition’s first female leader, said the Liberal Party must reflect modern Australia after its former federal president, Alan Stockdale, claimed that women have become “so confident” that the party may need to consider additional support for men.

"There is nothing wrong with being a confident woman, and in fact, I encourage confident women to join the Liberal Party," she said in a statement Thursday.

“The Liberal Party must reflect, respect and represent modern Australia, which means recognizing the strength, strengths and leadership of women of our hierarchy.”

Stockdale, former Prime Minister Jeff Kennett's Victorian Treasury, commented on a meeting of the Liberal Women's Commission on Tuesday night.

"Women in this party are so confident that we may need some special rules to get men pre-choice," the 80-year-old said at the meeting.

Later, he told the Telegram that he made "easy but poorly chosen remarks."

Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O'Brien questioned Stockdale's comments and called on strong women to join the liberals.

"For any confident woman, the Liberal Party is your party," he told ABC's news breakfast on Thursday.

“We need more women to interact with our parties and join our parties.

“I am proud of Sussan Ley as our leader.”

The Liberal Party has long been accused of having a “women’s problem” because female candidates are often inseparable and the party loses support from the base of female voters.

It was the overwhelming federal election loss in May.

During the campaign, the Liberal Party announced a policy requiring civil servants to stop working from home.

This is accused of alienating female voters, many of whom work from home to balance their work with parenting and other responsibilities.

In particular, the Liberal Party’s NSW department has been in turmoil after it failed to nominate 140 state-wide local government elections in September.

The Federal Liberal Party quickly took over three figures, including Stockdale, to oversee the party's state affairs.

National Senator Bridget McKenzie and former labor prime ministers of Anna Palaszczuk, Queensland, have joined forces to condemn Stokedale's remarks.

“Honestly, Allen, read the room,” Mackenzie said on Thursday’s Nine Days Show.

“It’s a shocking comment – ​​I think it’s time to get Allen back to the Melbourne Club, have a stiff whiskey and chat with the old boy.”

Palaszczuk said she couldn't believe it.

"You finally took a step in the Liberal Party, and Sussan Ley was elected (leader), and that's three steps to these comments," she told today.

“In this age, these are inappropriate, and honestly, the Liberals need to take a closer look at themselves, especially men.”