Share this @internewscast.com
Labor’s historic number of women candidates played a pivotal role in their decisive election victory, sparking discussions on how the Coalition might improve its gender diversity.
For the first time, female representatives in Labor will outnumber their male colleagues in the lower house, as over 15 new female MPs have contributed to securing 51 of the predicted 92 seats for the major party according to polling firm Redbridge.
There were unexpected victories, including those in Dickson.
New parliamentary members feature Jo Briskey, succeeding former NDIS minister Bill Shorten in Maribyrnong, and Ash Ambihaipahar, who will take over Barton from the retiring former Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney.
Women’s Minister Katy Gallagher explained to ABC’s RN that this is a reflection of Labor’s persistent efforts towards gender equality over the last 30 years, beginning with their 1994 quota introduction.

“In the Labor Party, every caucus member supports gender equality. That discussion is settled,” Gallagher said on Wednesday.

A list of all the women joining Labor in the 48th Parliament.

An unprecedented number of women will be part of Australia’s parliament, with Labor contributing a significant portion of female MPs to the House of Representatives. Source: SBS News

Labor MPs will join a historic 48th parliament with at least 68 women making up the lower house, an increase from 58 in 2022 and 40 under a Morrison-led government.

However, that number could rise as high as 72 depending on the final results in Bean, Longman, and Monash.
Catherine Hunter, CEO of the Diversity Council of Australia, told SBS News this election marked a major milestone for gender diversity in parliament, with diversity more broadly “essential for a healthy democracy”.
“When people making decisions reflect the diversity of the Australian community, the policies they create are more likely to be more inclusive, more effective, and ultimately, fairer,” she said.
She said lived experience is critical to making decisions, otherwise leaders risk “overlooking or misunderstanding the realities facing huge sections of the population”.

So, how does Australia compare to the rest of the world?

Coalition faces quota pressures as women representation drops

While Labor’s gender diversity continues to grow, the Coalition went backwards at this election.
It elected seven women MPs out of 40, a decrease from nine in 2022. It may be boosted slightly by Gisele Kapterian, if she retains the tightly contested seat of Bradfield in NSW.
This is due to Bridget Archer losing Bass and Jenny Ware losing Hughes, as well as men replacing retiring MPs Karen Andrews in McPherson and Nola Marino in Forrest.
Of the 10 independents currently projected to enter parliament, seven are women.
Former Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham argues the Coalition should consider “hard, fast and ambitious” quotas for women in parliament, with representation so low.
“I struggle to think of any alternatives if there’s to be a new direction that truly demonstrates change and truly guarantees that the party will better reflect the composition of modern society,” he said in a post on LinkedIn.
Former Liberal NSW premier Barry O’Farrell said it is important that political parties reflect the community they represent, with more diversity both culturally and in terms of gender.

Pressed on women quotas specifically, he told SBS News the Liberals “need to increase its diversity in all areas”.

A line graph showing how the percentage of women has grown across the major parties over the last five decades.

An unparalleled number of female representatives are about to serve in the federal parliament, marking a significant increase from the 58 women elected to the 47th parliament. Source: SBS News

Michelle Ryan is the director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at The Australian National University.

She told SBS News that alongside quotas, the Coalition needs to consider where it’s placing its women candidates, avoiding the glass cliff.
The glass cliff refers to women being given leadership opportunities during difficult times or times of crises, but in a political context, can refer to being placed in more difficult contests.
“We did an analysis last election and what we saw is that women are more likely than men to be placed in risky and precarious seats, so ones that are basically either unwinnable or difficult to win or hold,” she said.

“They do differ by party as well. For the Coalition, women were much more likely to be in those unwinnable seats.”

A graph showing how the percentage of women in parliament has grown.

Source: SBS News

How does Australia compare to the rest of the world?

Australia does “pretty well relative to its comparators”, according to Ryan.
She said Scandinavian countries such as Finland, which has had three women prime ministers, and Switzerland, which has had five women presidents, often lead perceptions around gender diversity.
However, parliaments like Rwanda, which in 2024 had 50 per cent representation, often surprise the public.
“So that’s partly due to quotas. It’s partly to do with genocide, where many men were killed. So the reasons for representation are often different,” she said.
She said this includes the rise of women to head of state due to marriage or being the daughter of a previous prime minister.
Other countries with at least half of their parliament or lower house made up of women include Cuba, Nicaragua, Andorra, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, according to UN Women.
UN Women calculates that globally, only 27.2 per cent of parliamentarians in single or lower houses are women, with monarchy-based systems excluded from the count.
Despite a mammoth election year globally in 2024, 107 countries have yet to have a woman as the head of state.

For the latest from SBS News, and .
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Former Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Killed in Prison Assault

This article contains references to child abuse. Disgraced British rocker Ian Watkins,…

North Korea Displays Its ‘Strongest’ Missile at Parade Attended by Russian and Chinese Officials

North Korea showed off its “most powerful” intercontinental ballistic missile at a…
Diane Keaton

Legendary Hollywood Actress Diane Keaton Passes Away at 79

Legendary actress Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79. At…
A married couple and their friend have been killed when their light plane crashed south of Sydney.Owner Andrew Connors, his wife Julieanne and family-friend Colin McLachlan were bound for Bathurst when the Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft they were travelling in crashed at Shellharbour Airport.

3 Killed in Light Plane Crash Near Sydney, Including an Adventurous Couple

A married couple and their friend have been killed when their light…
A Qantas Airbus A330-202 plane, registration VH-EBM, passing the air traffic control tower as she taxis at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport in preparation for departure as flight QF43 to Denpasar.

Hackers Leak Personal Data of 5.7 Million Qantas Customers on Dark Web

The personal data of 5.7 million Qantas customers has been released on…
Ian Watkins has been murdered in prison.

Convicted Rock Star Ian Watkins Killed in UK Prison Assault

Ian Watkins, the ex-lead singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, who…
For mother-of-three Angela Finch each day is not about spending or saving but struggle and survival.

Study Finds Sharp Increase in Australians Experiencing Poverty

There’s an urgent call to help those in poverty, as new figures…

Beware of More Than Just Magpies This Swooping Season

You’re out walking your dog or cycling when suddenly feathers swoosh past…
Trump sets off for Middle East to mark ceasefire deal

Trump Travels to the Middle East to Celebrate Ceasefire Agreement

US President Donald Trump is embarking on a trip to Israel and…
For some, saving hostages means freeing militants who killed loved ones

For some people, rescuing hostages involves releasing militants responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.

On Tal Hartuv’s chest is a jagged scar, one of 18 stab…
'Unite in defence': 'Gen Z Madagascar' coup shakes island nation

‘Rally to Protect’: ‘Gen Z Madagascar’ Uprising Jolts Island Nation

An attempted coup is reportedly unfolding in Madagascar, according to the country’s…

“Concerns Arise About Qantas Data Breach Amid Ongoing Investigation”

Qantas says it’s investigating what data has been released by hackers after…