The taskforce’s chairperson, Liberal MLC Nicola Centofanti, confirmed to InDaily that Speirs had pushed back the deadline for a final report until “early next year”.

She said she recalled Speirs suggesting to the taskforce when it was set up in July to report back within about four to five months, but he agreed late last week to push out the deadline so that members could have more time to deliberate.

“When we say an extension, it’s not really an extension of a lot of time,” she said.

“I think it would have been nice to get it out before Christmas, but just with circumstances the way that they are, we’ve got a lot to focus on.”

The taskforce was announced following the resignation of former Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman and subsequent election of replacement Bragg MP Jack Batty, which left just two Liberal women in the House of Assembly.

Chelsey Potter, a former Liberal staffer who considered running as an independent at the Bragg by-election to ensure female representation, is part of the taskforce, as are sitting state MPs Michelle Lensink, Laura Curran, Penny Pratt and Jing Lee, alongside federal senator Kerrynne Liddle.

Former Liberal politicians Isobel Redmond, Trish Worth, Carolyn Power and Caroline Schaefer are also members.

Speirs asked the taskforce to create an action plan and recommendations to attract more women to the party, describing the lack of Liberal women in state parliament’s lower house as a “situation we must improve at the next election”.

But Centofanti said members had found it difficult to find time to meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic and River Murray floods.

“It’s just been a bit tricky getting the whole taskforce together,” she said.

“We’ve had COVID being a bit of an issue… but, I’m also based in the Riverland, so obviously I’ve been spread a bit thin lately in terms of just dealing with some constituent stuff with the rising water levels up in the Riverland.

“We’ve certainly received a number of submissions and we’ve listened to a number of oral submissions, but it’s really about now trying to get the taskforce together to really deliberate on what we’ve heard and have some discussions around that table.”

Centofanti said the taskforce had received submissions from Liberal members and “external stakeholders”, but she was unsure of the exact number.

She said the taskforce had also engaged an “external facilitator” to help with its deliberations, but she refused to name them.

“Submissions have formally closed, but it’s not that we’re not open to hearing from other people,” she said.

“Obviously if other people come forward, it’s just around finding time now for the taskforce to really have a meaningful chat and really deliberate on the action plan going forward and the recommendations.

“I am trying to get everyone around the table because it’s just such an important topic.

“While the taskforce needs to work quickly, it’s crucial we do not rush this process because the end goal is a more inclusive Liberal Party that caters equally to a diverse community and all walks of life.”

InDaily understands the taskforce has discussed whether to introduce quotas to boost women’s participation in the party – an idea Speirs previously said he would consider if recommended by the taskforce.

Centofanti refused to say whether quotas were being considered, with several of the taskforce’s members also declining to comment when contacted by InDaily this morning.

Trish Worth said she was “confident there are some very good women well placed to enter parliament in due course.”

“We’ve only just had an election this year. Unfortunately, we were beaten and three good women lost their seats, but two came in.

“All is not lost. There is a brighter horizon.”