Now that the outrage around our almost-exclusively male Federal cabinet is beginning to subside can everyone please just relax and go back to normal? No! Of course not.
Many people have expressed disappointment (the Prime Minister Tony Abbott included) with the lack of female representation in senior leadership positions in the government. But in addition to disappointment I also know some confusion exists too. Many of the Liberal-voting men I have talked to are dismayed and confused about the situation. ‘How does this happen?’ and ‘What can we do about it?’ are two questions I have heard a lot.
So I’ve compiled a list. This is based on my experience as a Liberal party member and as a woman frustrated by the lack of balance. To the men of the Liberal party, here’s what I suggest you do:
- Stop talking about merit. This has rightly been described as a straw-man argument. I haven’t heard anybody suggest we promote women to the top, because, you know, they’re women. There are plenty of men with little merit in our Parliament that come to mind. We all agree we want people of merit to represent us. The end. Let’s move on from this argument.
- Keep opposing quotas if that’s what you believe but keep an open mind too. You might be surprised to realise we have quotas for women already. At the National level the coordinating body of the Liberal Party, the Federal Council, comprises eight delegates from each State – the State President, the State Parliamentary Leader, a representative of the Young Liberal Movement, a representative of the Women’s Section and four other delegates. If we have quotas for young Liberals and women in our management levels to ensure representation, perhaps a Parliamentary quota is not the outrageous concept you’ve been led to believe it is?
The energy put into merit arguments and opposing quotas is often the thing that stops the conversation moving forward into what can proactively be done. I just ask that you open your mind.
- Talk to women in the party about politics. By not engaging in the simple act of making conversation with women about politics some men can inadvertently overlook what women can contribute. Here’s an example. I attended a Divisional meeting and met a State President of the Party. I happened to be standing next to another chap who was attending his very first Liberal Party meeting. The State President, making small talk, asked me, “Do you have any children?” I told him about my three children and we shared anecdotes about the rascally escapades of boys. He turned to the chap, and asked him what he did for work. The conversation moved to business, then public policy, and the current issues of the day. Despite my long career in the Liberal Party as a Branch President, Divisional Committee member, Chair of a State Campaign and my own career as a business owner, the State President likely left with an impression of me as nice mum and of the newbie chap as an interesting business man. I walked away thinking, ‘why bother’ and the Liberal newbie chap no doubt walked away thinking, ‘wow, this is a great, stimulating place to get my ideas heard’.
- Meet with a Liberal woman once a month for a networking coffee. This is especially true if you’re an MP or in a Party position. Too often we see the panic when a safe seat opens for pre-selection and a field of men are the only ones that put up their hands. I’m sure it’s because so few talented women have contact with mentors who encourage them when opportunities come up.
If you’re inclined to blame women for not having the courage to seek out their own mentors and to stand, reflect on a woman’s day-to-day experience of branch politics. It’s a bit of a stretch to see yourself as a Member of Parliament when your firsthand experience is as the fundraiser, the sandwich maker and the polling booth campaigner.
- Don’t assume women are too busy. The one thing successful Cabinet members have in common is a supportive partner that allows them to fully participate in public life. Some women these days are lucky enough to have supportive partners who allow them to do more than you think they might be able to. When my three young boys were young I was able to take on the role of Campaign Chair because of a very understanding and involved husband. This was initially a surprise to the local candidate who thought I had too much on my plate. Don’t be afraid to ask women to take on key roles because of your consideration for her work and family commitments, let her be the one to judge whether she can, or wants, to take a challenge on.
There are great women and men involved in the Liberal Party at branch level, and we want to see the best rise to the top. I’d be really interested in what Liberal men think are the five things Liberal women could do to improve their leadership chances? There might just be some simple answers to better represent all of us in our highest office.