Sarah Henderson’s preselection win in Victoria over the weekend will split the number of female and male Senators evenly at 38 each for the first time in history. “Achieving equal numbers of men…
Men caring for kids cannot be viewed as ‘unicorns’: Kate Thwaites’ first speech in parliament
On Wednesday Kate Thwaites delivered her first speech in Parliament as the new Member for Jagajaga. The “working mum with a 17-month old daughter” said she is proud to be one of a growing …
Here are the women entering federal parliament for the first time in 2019
After the federal election and with a few seats still undecided, women are expected to take at least 81 of the 227 seats across both houses of the new Australian parliament. These women will make up a…
Women in politics need visibility and voice not just votes
Tamsin Simounds & Amy Chandler As Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s feet come down to earth after his ‘miraculous’ win, he now begins the process of reshuffling his front bench. Based on the fact t…
A ‘miracle’ for the Coalition but no miracle for women
Australians voted, and this is the result: A Coalition victory, possibly with a majority in the lower house. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called it a “miracle”, given such a result seemed so unlikely…
Australia’s next parliament will be unrepresentative of the population
New research predicts Australia’s 46th parliament will be unrepresentative of the population when it comes to gender, cultural background and physical ability. Based on the current pool of preselected…
‘Parliament is decades out of date & too blokey’: Malcolm Turnbull on Q&A
The former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent an hour on television on Thursday evening for a special episode of the ABC’s Q&A program. He was calm and confident as he fielded questions o…
Julia Gillard’s three year anniversary: Is Australia still struggling with a female PM?
On June 24, 2010, Australia’s first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, was sworn into office by Australia’s first female governor-general, Quentin Bryce. The iconic photographs of that day spoke of…
Get your hand up for an opportunity – just be ready for the added scrutiny
Labor’s new deputy leader in the senate, Senator Jacinta Collins, is an example of a woman who knows an opportunity when she sees one and the need to put her hand up to grab it. We haven’t…
Why some Australian women loathe Tony Abbott – especially now
If you think David Cameron has a ‘woman’s problem’, meet Tony Abbott: the new Australian PM who, among other things, said people should vote for him because he has “not bad loo…
