Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has told a senior Liberal figure to “read the room” after his comments to the party’s NSW women’s council.

Former Victorian treasurer and former federal Liberal Party president Alan Stockdale told a meeting of the NSW Liberal Women’s Council that women in the party were “assertive” and that the men might need protection in the future.

But opposition leader Sussan Ley, the first woman to head up the Liberals, issued a statement saying “assertive women” were encouraged to join the party.

“There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman,” she said.

And this morning, McKenzie joined the chorus of condemnation.

“It was a shocking comment,” she told Today.

“I think it’s time for Alan to head back to the Melbourne club, have a stiff whisky, and chat with the old boys about what went wrong.”

She pointed out that 45 per cent of the Liberal MPs in NSW were women.

“I mean, we’ve had thousands of years of men running the show. We’ve finally got a foot in the door. We’re coming for you. And it’s not bad thing, right?” she said.

She said women needed to be assertive to represent their communities in parliament.

“I don’t want to disrespect those who’ve gone before us, but the reality is our parliaments and our political parties have to reflect our communities,” she said.

“I think we need more assertive women because we have to fight for the future of our country and our communities. That’s why you send us to places like Canberra.”

The recently-reformed Coalition unveiled its shadow cabinet last week, sparking criticism including from within the party after high-profile women were moved out of shadow ministry positions.