No, this is not a Betoota Advocate headline, although you may be forgiven for thinking as much. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has joined the Morrison Government’s Status of Women Taskforce.
That would be the same Taskforce that Prime Minister Scott Morrison created a number of months back, just as numerous allegations were aired regarding the safety and treatment of women in the Liberal party, along with others working in Parliament House. The Taskforce was created during a Cabinet reshuffle, which saw Christian Porter removed from the Attorney General portfolio.
The Taskforce’s key goals include providing a new lens across key policy decisions and women’s safety and security. Its creation came as the Morrisson Government was desperate to improve its standing with women, and after thousands of people protested across the country.
Barnaby Joyce’s inclusion now completely undermines any credibility this Taskforce ever hoped to achieve.
Joyce is replacing his predecessor Michael McCormack in the role. Other men in the Taskforce include Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.
In defending Joyce’s inclusion today, Birmingham said during Question Time that leaders from both the Liberals and the Nations should be included.
Essentially then, Joyce is filling a quota despite lacking any ‘merit’ on the skills one would think participation in such a Taskforce would require. And on this particular quota, a female leader from the Nats would clearly not be good enough.
A reminder: Joyce resigned from the leadership of the Nationals back in 2018 due to an accusation of sexual harassment by Catherine Mariott, which he strenuously denies. Joyce told reporters earlier on in the week that he returns to the leadership a changed man. He’s learned, he’s reflected. As he told Parliament today: “Every person in their life tries to be a better person, and I’m no different.” Catherine Marriott, meanwhile, must now watch Joyce’s resurrection not only back to his former position, but now into this taskforce.
The move has been described as “beyond farce” by Tanya Plibersek, the Shadow Minister for women. It’s “unbelievable” according to Greens Senator Larissa Waters. Many female politicians offered few words in comments on his appointment, because few words were all that were needed to describe how they feel about Joyce’s inclusion on such a committee.
Is the Coalition trolling women now, in suggesting this is at all appropriate?
Was there really no flexibility on avoiding the Nationals quota, just this once? Given Morrison does appear to be making up the rules on this Taskforce as he goes anyway. As we know, it was hastily put together, just like the Women’s Budget Statement was.
For Barnaby Joyce, the chair’s pulled out from the table for him to take his place. The right hand man of a women’s Taskforce.
He’ll be there to help determine new initiatives to support the safety of women and address women’s economic security. He’ll be there to join Amanda Stoker on stamping a conservative view over the top of any priorities outlined. Maybe they could invite Matt Canavan to join in the fun, they could banter on everything from abortion access and the anti-abortion rallies they’ve fronted, to shaming women for accessing early childhood education for their children.
Joyce is there to fill a quota.