❓ Ms McGurk questions the Premier on the under-representation of women in cabinet positions within the Liberal-National coalition. The Premier defends the government's record on promoting women to senior positions, dismissing Labor's use of quotas and challenging them to compare their female representation.
AnsweredQoN 742Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CABINET REPRESENTATION — WOMEN
742. Ms S.F. McGURK to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement today of
new appointments to cabinet and the poor representation of women in leadership
positions in the Liberal–National coalition. To assist the Premier,
four out of 17 ministerial positions are held by women, which represents 23.5 per
cent—marginally more than the 22 per cent of coalition members across
the government who are women. When will the Liberal Party take practical steps,
Premier, to promote women within its ranks?
742. Ms S.F. McGURK to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement today of
new appointments to cabinet and the poor representation of women in leadership
positions in the Liberal–National coalition. To assist the Premier,
four out of 17 ministerial positions are held by women, which represents 23.5 per
cent—marginally more than the 22 per cent of coalition members across
the government who are women. When will the Liberal Party take practical steps,
Premier, to promote women within its ranks?
AnswerView source ↗
I am sitting right next to a practical
step in the Deputy Premier of Western Australia. The Deputy Premier is an
outstanding member of Parliament who is doing a fantastic job. We have other
women members and ministers here—pretty damn good!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I know the Labor Party relies on quotas—I know that
is its policy —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Okay; that is all right.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party certainly encourages and wants to see more
women in Parliament and more —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, what is the point? These are the blokes that put
the quotas in place!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Premier.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time. I feel
that we are going to have another run now.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party does not have quotas, but —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time. Next
time you shout out, you will leave the chamber.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party does not believe in quotas, but we
certainly have an approach of encouraging more women to be elected, putting
more women into so-called safe seats and more women into positions of seniority
in the Parliament. Mr Speaker, if you want to look at the issue, under the
Deputy Premier; Minister for Women's Interests, if members look at the
figures quoted the other day, the representation of women on government boards
has gone up strongly under this government. If we look at the senior levels—the
most senior positions in our public service—women are highly
represented in major government agencies, such as Water Corporation, Education,
Training, and so on and so on. Our practical record of women in senior
positions stands for itself. But if the opposition wants to make women in
Parliament and women in senior positions an issue going into the next election—good
luck to it!—let us line them up. Let us line up the Liberal and
National Parties' women against the Labor women and let the community
make its own decision. We would be up for that anytime—anytime the
opposition wants to!
step in the Deputy Premier of Western Australia. The Deputy Premier is an
outstanding member of Parliament who is doing a fantastic job. We have other
women members and ministers here—pretty damn good!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I know the Labor Party relies on quotas—I know that
is its policy —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Okay; that is all right.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party certainly encourages and wants to see more
women in Parliament and more —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, what is the point? These are the blokes that put
the quotas in place!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Premier.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time. I feel
that we are going to have another run now.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party does not have quotas, but —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time. Next
time you shout out, you will leave the chamber.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Liberal Party does not believe in quotas, but we
certainly have an approach of encouraging more women to be elected, putting
more women into so-called safe seats and more women into positions of seniority
in the Parliament. Mr Speaker, if you want to look at the issue, under the
Deputy Premier; Minister for Women's Interests, if members look at the
figures quoted the other day, the representation of women on government boards
has gone up strongly under this government. If we look at the senior levels—the
most senior positions in our public service—women are highly
represented in major government agencies, such as Water Corporation, Education,
Training, and so on and so on. Our practical record of women in senior
positions stands for itself. But if the opposition wants to make women in
Parliament and women in senior positions an issue going into the next election—good
luck to it!—let us line them up. Let us line up the Liberal and
National Parties' women against the Labor women and let the community
make its own decision. We would be up for that anytime—anytime the
opposition wants to!
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