THE hosting of an LNP International Women’s Day event at a men’s club signals the party is “smashing the glass ceiling”, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten seized on news LNP Women had selected Brisbane’s Tattersall’s Club to host Friday’s worldwide women’s event - broken by The Courier-Mail - to question Mr Abbott over the appropriateness of the venue.

Mr Abbott said the decision was great news and cause for celebration.

“I say congratulations and thank God that bastion of old fashioned chauvinism has finally collapsed like the walls of Jericho at the trumpet cry of the Liberal and National Party. Good on you,” he told the Federal Parliament.

Mr Abbott said the decision showed “just how wonderful the broad church that I lead is”.

“Obviously they’ve now broken down the last barrier and they’ve made the men-only club admit women,” he said.

“Isn’t that fantastic. At last.

“They’ve admitted women and they’ve done it on International Women’s Day because of the Liberal National ... good on the Liberal National Party, smashing the glass ceiling yet again.”

EARLIER: THE LNP will host its International Women’s Day event - at a men’s only club.

LNP Women has booked out Brisbane’s Tattersall’s Club on Friday to host the annual event that advocates women’s equality.

Marking the economic, political and social achievements of women around the world, the event will hear from former Speaker Fiona Simpson and Nationals federal president Christine Ferguson.

The third speaker is Lyn Truss, billed as a community advocate and wife of the Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.

Tattersall’s Club describes itself as the oldest and most prestigious members club in the Brisbane CBD.

“You will enjoy unlimited possibilities, luxury services and the opportunity to join an influential network of like-minded members,” its website tells men considering joining.

Women looking to enjoy the facilities can do so, but only if they bring along their “Partners Card”, which provides them with access to club facilities and services.

Australian Young Labor national secretary Mitchell Watt, who posted the invitation on Twitter, said he thought it was a joke to begin with.

“But then I remembered that this was from a party with a male Minister for Women,” he said.

Queensland Labor MP Jim Chalmers said the choice of venue was disappointing and demonstrated the party’s old-fashioned views.

“It beggars belief that they could be so out of touch with women in modern Queensland that they hold an International Women’s Day event in a men’s club,” he said.

The LNP said the lunch had been organised by LNP Women.

“Nearly half of the LNP’s 14,000 members are women and this event aims to discuss and promote the involvement of more women in politics at all levels,” a statement to The Courier Mail said.

“The venue was chosen simply on the basis of availability, price and flexibility in a CBD location.

“LNP Women appreciate the efforts of Tattersall’s Club in accommodating their function at short notice.”

When asked about the event, Ms Simpson said:

“I’m less troubled by openly male only clubs or openly women only gyms than I am by areas of society that have a veneer of equality but which hide structural impediments or unconscious bias that block women from opportunities,” she said.

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