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Michaelia Cash: Liberal party should look at targets to boost women in ranks Michaelia Cash: Liberal party should look at targets to boost women in ranks
(about 13 hours later)
The Liberal party should look at introducing targets to bolster the number of women in its ranks, according to the minister assisting the prime minister for women, Michaelia Cash.The Liberal party should look at introducing targets to bolster the number of women in its ranks, according to the minister assisting the prime minister for women, Michaelia Cash.
Cash, who oversees the women’s portfolio for the federal government, rejected introducing quotas but said she was open to implementing targets.Cash, who oversees the women’s portfolio for the federal government, rejected introducing quotas but said she was open to implementing targets.
“I don’t think we’re afraid and I don’t think we’re unwilling. I think it is a conversation that we need to have,” she said.“I don’t think we’re afraid and I don’t think we’re unwilling. I think it is a conversation that we need to have,” she said.
Related: Women in Australian politics: data shows the gender gap has widened
Less than a quarter of federal Liberal MPs are women, and only two sit on the frontbench.Less than a quarter of federal Liberal MPs are women, and only two sit on the frontbench.
“Of course the Liberal party can do more, [to boost women’s participation] and I’m not going to stand here and say no, because the statistics indicate that clearly we should do more,” Cash told reporters on Tuesday.“Of course the Liberal party can do more, [to boost women’s participation] and I’m not going to stand here and say no, because the statistics indicate that clearly we should do more,” Cash told reporters on Tuesday.
The leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, on Monday night admitted that the Liberal party has “suffered” from not having enough women.The leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, on Monday night admitted that the Liberal party has “suffered” from not having enough women.
But he, along with attorney general George Brandis, rejected hard quotas.But he, along with attorney general George Brandis, rejected hard quotas.
Cash said that the party believes in a merit-based approach.Cash said that the party believes in a merit-based approach.
“The Liberal party does not believe in quotas, and never has,” Cash said. “We could bring in a quota tomorrow of 50%, but what does it say to those women who have been brought in?”“The Liberal party does not believe in quotas, and never has,” Cash said. “We could bring in a quota tomorrow of 50%, but what does it say to those women who have been brought in?”
Liberal backbencher Sharman Stone has broken ranks with her colleagues and called for quotas.Liberal backbencher Sharman Stone has broken ranks with her colleagues and called for quotas.
“I want women to be in [parliament in] the first instance, if that is the only way they are going to get there by quota, let them prove they are are not only as good as but can be better than some of the blokes there,” Stone told ABC TV on Tuesday. “Let’s make sure we start to represent Australia as it is.”“I want women to be in [parliament in] the first instance, if that is the only way they are going to get there by quota, let them prove they are are not only as good as but can be better than some of the blokes there,” Stone told ABC TV on Tuesday. “Let’s make sure we start to represent Australia as it is.”
The chief executive of the Diversity Council of Australia, Lisa Annese, said many businesses were moving towards targets, and politics should be no different.The chief executive of the Diversity Council of Australia, Lisa Annese, said many businesses were moving towards targets, and politics should be no different.
“Most best-practice companies have targets for women in leadership,” Annese said. “Targets are really helpful. If you want to affect change, you need to know what you’re aiming for.”“Most best-practice companies have targets for women in leadership,” Annese said. “Targets are really helpful. If you want to affect change, you need to know what you’re aiming for.”
She warned that the idea of “merit” was fraught, because it was defined by the dominant group in society.She warned that the idea of “merit” was fraught, because it was defined by the dominant group in society.
“There are plenty of women of merit who are not engaged in the career pipeline for a range of reasons,” Annese said.“There are plenty of women of merit who are not engaged in the career pipeline for a range of reasons,” Annese said.
Over the weekend, the opposition leader Bill Shorten announced that Labor would increase its target for women in the party from 40% to 50% by 2025.Over the weekend, the opposition leader Bill Shorten announced that Labor would increase its target for women in the party from 40% to 50% by 2025.
“I am proud that on my side of the parliament we have seen leadership,” the shadow education minister, Kate Ellis, said. “Tony Abbott is a dinosaur when it comes to women’s representation and his own Liberal MPs are calling him out on it today.”“I am proud that on my side of the parliament we have seen leadership,” the shadow education minister, Kate Ellis, said. “Tony Abbott is a dinosaur when it comes to women’s representation and his own Liberal MPs are calling him out on it today.”
“What we haven’t seen is any such leadership from Tony Abbott. And now his own MPs are begging him to get out of the Dark Ages and actually put in place a structure to help us see an appropriate representation of women within the parliament,” she said.“What we haven’t seen is any such leadership from Tony Abbott. And now his own MPs are begging him to get out of the Dark Ages and actually put in place a structure to help us see an appropriate representation of women within the parliament,” she said.