In her seat: As the fight for equality in politics continues, seven women MPs talk about power and progress

WA has an outside chance of electing its 100th woman into Parliament next weekend when the State shuffles into voting booths to tick boxes and buy a democracy sausage. If it happens — and it is a big if, requiring seven new women to win their seats — it would be a fitting tribute for the 100th anniversary of the election of Edith Cowan, Australia’s first female MP. However, it would also come amidst a nationwide reckoning about whether Australian politics has a woman problem, as the country grapples with the fallout from a historic rape claim against Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter and rape allegations by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and other anonymous women against an ex-colleague. As Ms Cowan, who was elected on March 12, 1921, noted in her maiden speech: “The views of both sides (men and women) are more than ever needed in Parliament today.” Non-profit executive Conrad Liveris has been grappling with Ms Cowan’s legacy for months and collecting stories from Australian female politicians about their inspiration, motivation and experience of political life. His bipartisan research project, In Her Seat, was always planned to coincide with Friday’s anniversary but has turned out to be particularly timely. To mark the 100th anniversary of Ms Cowan’s historic election — and ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow — The Sunday Times has hand-picked excerpts from seven of the interviews conducted by Mr Liveris that paint a picture of what it is to be a woman in politics. They include Liza Harvey’s call for politicians to be held to account for “their language, their gestures and their attitudes towards women” and Alyssa Hayden’s criticism of a “competitive culture” that can discourage women from supporting each other. Mr Liveris said he planned to have 50 interviews online by March 12, with another 50 to come. “Quite literally I have emailed every serving female politician in the country,” he said. “I reckon there’s three things (that are common themes): firstly these women tend to have a really clear idea of why they’ve entered Parliament and there’s always something quite local and close to them. It’s not a political decision, it’s about a political issue, a local issue and they’re, like, someone’s got to step up. “It’s never, ‘I want to be a minister or a party leader.’ “The second thing that comes through for me is that they’ve actually — and pretty aptly this week — got a really good understanding that Parliament can work better, they think the adversarial system doesn’t always work best and they think greater collaboration and collegiality within the Parliament is something that is really important. “And the third one, when I asked about gender equality, is that they tend to say there needs to be more women of diverse backgrounds, both in terms of ethnicity ... but also in socio-economic backgrounds, their education, where they were born and where they live. “I won’t name this woman because it was said outside the formal interview but she said her most productive days as a politician aren’t during Question Time and that signals to something bigger, which is that what makes it onto the 6pm news, that sort of rough and tumble, isn’t what drives everyone.” Mr Liveris said there was a chance WA could make history by electing its 100th woman next weekend, pointing to Hannah Beazley in Victoria Park, Lara Dalton in Geraldton and Caitlin Collins in Hillarys as potential winners. Meredith Hammat in Mirrabooka, Rebecca Stephens in Albany and Jodie Hanns in Collie-Preston, among others, are also possibilities. Liza Harvey, Member for Scarborough (Liberal) What does gender equality mean to you? Gone are the days, thankfully, where gender roles were specific. Where women were only permitted to stay at home and did the washing, swept the floor and tended to children. The world has changed and we must change with it. We must realise that everyone — regardless of their gender, their colour, where they were born, what they look like — is created equal. “Everyone has a right to be treated properly, to be respected, to be included. “Everyone, as Thomas Jefferson wrote in the American Declaration of Independence, has the ‘inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. Everyone.” Which female politicians have inspired or encouraged you? My number one, without doubt, would be Edith Cowan. To come from such a tough background like hers — an orphan at 14 after her father was hanged for murdering her stepmother, her real mother having died in childbirth when she was seven — and then go onto become the first female MP in Australia was something special. Her bio is extraordinary reading. A fighter for the under-privileged, especially women and children, she created the Karrakatta Club which then led the charge on women’s suffrage. She was also the leading light in the creation of King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, and helped form the Women’s Service Guild and the Children’s Protection Society, where as a magistrate she successfully argued that children be treated differently from adults by the courts. When she was elected to the WA Legislative Assembly in 1921 she was almost 60. She copped plenty of abuse from her political opponents, often spurred on by her wonderful habit of knitting in the Chamber. A remarkable woman. “On a more contemporary level, WA’s first female Attorney-General Cheryl Edwardes and federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds have been very inspiring. They are strong, capable women who have excelled at their chosen careers, juggled families, and always found plenty of time to help out countless others behind the scenes, without seeking reward or recognition. Truly outstanding women.” What inspired you to serve your community? “It started quite innocuously. There were some new laws the government at the time was contemplating which directly affected the small business I was running with my late husband, Hal. “They were silly, ill-thought-out laws around the fishing industry that would have really hit us for six and they were based on pure ideology, not common sense or science. “I was already a member of the Liberal Party, so I thought to myself; if you want to change things, it’s no use just sitting back and complaining — you’ve got to roll up your sleeves, get in there and have a crack.” “I did, managed to get pre-selection for the seat of Scarborough, and then won the seat at the 2008 State election. “The new rules, that would have really hurt our business and others like it, did not eventuate. “It’s an adage I live my life by; if you want to change things, get in there and have a go.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “I’m really not sure that we have completely smashed through the glass ceiling when it comes to politics. I suspect there are still some MPs and senior bureaucrats out there who still under-rate women on the basis of their sex. Not many, mind you, but still too many. “We need to make sure that we hold all politicians to account over their language, their gestures and their attitudes towards women. We must continue to call out sexist behaviour loud and clear.” “Gratefully, the vast majority of Australians understand that certain language that may have been okay in the front bar of the 1980s is now not acceptable. We have made monumental steps forward but still have some ways to go.” Janine Freeman, Member for Mirrabooka (Labor) What inspired you to serve your community? “When I was working as a bar attendant in 1986 the Hon. Pam Beggs, as the Labor Minister for Racing and Gaming, banned topless barmaids. At the time, as a hospitality worker I had been forced to work alongside naked women who made the workplace unsavoury and unsafe. “Pam Beggs’ tenacity and dedication to make my workplace safer despite calls of ‘nanny state’ cemented in me a commitment to feminism, the fight against discrimination and a belief in collective workplace action through union membership.” “My mother was forced to quit her government job when she married my father in 1961. That and other prejudices wrought on women gave me a fire in my belly for justice. My belief in fairness and access to justice has been at the core of my commitment to the people in Mirrabooka, who often experience periods of unemployment and work in unskilled or semi-skilled employment.” “This, in addition to the indignity of prejudice and intolerance for our First Nations people and on the basis of birthplace or religion, inspires me to advocate that a “fair go” in Australia is only a reality if it applies to all Australians.” What are the most important contributions you are making in Parliament? “While Mirrabooka has the greatest cultural, religious and social diversity of any seat in the WA Parliament, it also has the highest unemployment rate and socio-economic disadvantage in the metropolitan area. My focus over the last 12 years has been on employment opportunities in the area.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “Since Edith Cowan was elected in 1921, the participation of women in the WA Parliament has grown at an average of 1.1 per cent each election and will not reach parity at this rate until near the end of this century. This is despite the increase of Labor women as WA parliamentary members, as a result of structural reform through affirmative action targets. “To achieve 50/50 Parliamentary representation, it is now imperative that other parliamentary parties dismantle the inherent bias against women in their preselection process. “Equal representation also needs to be reflected in other Parliament and Cabinet positions. In 2017 two Labor women were elected as President and Leader of WA Legislative Council, an anomaly that is yet to be addressed in the Legislative Assembly. “In this the 100th year of Edith Cowan’s election it is surely time that the Speaker and Leader of the Legislative Assembly be women.” “However, it is not just enough to have more women; equality is only delivered where there are various voices heard and ensuring that women who get elected are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities is a challenge that needs addressing.” Alison Xamon, WA Greens Leader What does gender equality mean to you? “Gender equality clearly means the opportunity to pursue your dreams, to reach your potential, to have opportunities, regardless of your gender. “For me as a Member of Parliament, it means that I am able to undertake my parliamentary role, whilst being a mother, on the same terms as any male MP who is a parent. The hours at the moment are not family-friendly, and it has only been in the last couple of years that women have even been able to breastfeed their infants in the chamber. “As a result far too often women either rule themselves out to run for parliament, or are subject to subtle or even overt discouragement from running. “Unfortunately, it was only this year that for the first time I was the recipient of sexist slurs in parliament, and obviously gender equality means not having to put up with that sort of appalling conduct.” What inspires you to serve your community? “I joined the Greens three decades ago, an idealistic young woman who was already involved as an activist in a number of environmental and social justice campaigns. Since then I have continued in multiple campaigns and movements and was also heavily influenced by the work I undertook as a union official. “Of course, being a mother to three I have become increasingly concerned about the future I am leaving for my children. We can create a better world and I am not content to just leave it to others to do the work.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “The next step for gender equality in politics is to make it easier for women of childbearing age to both put their hands up for parliament and then to do the job. “Work-life-balance is something that everyone should strive for, everyone benefits. But women are disproportionately left to carry the double burden of work and family.” Alyssa Hayden, Member for Darling Range (Liberal) What does gender equality mean to you? “I believe gender equality is when we stop seeing genders and we start seeing the person and their qualities. “Equality is not just between genders, it must also be within them. Men often support each other, whether through formalised mentoring programs, or in casual settings outside of work. “Sadly, from my experience women are not as supportive of one another within the workplace as men are. This may be a direct result of the limited career opportunities for women, in turn creating a competitive culture. “Women also have a tendency to wait until we’re asked to get involved, when we need to just step in and involve ourselves rather than waiting for an invitation.” What inspires you to serve your community? “I was inspired to serve my community by entering politics because I didn’t feel that there was a current Member of Parliament who shared the same path in life as me and lacked the personal experience of what it takes to be a small business owner. “There were many doctors, lawyers, teachers and farmers in politics at the time, and while they all made their own valuable contributions, I believe that in a representative democracy such as ours, we must have a Parliament that reflects our entire community, not just academics, but the many of us who took another pathway.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “The next step for gender equality in politics is making leadership more accessible for women at a younger age. “While we are seeing more women enter politics, it appears to be driven by a quota system, rather than a meaningful cultural shift. This may increase the numbers, but it doesn’t change the way women are treated when they get there.” “To solve that problem, we need women in leadership across our community.” “The only way to lower the barriers preventing women from entering politics is to empower women to put themselves forward for leadership roles. One of the ways we can do this is by fostering and mentoring them. I am currently mentoring several women and I’m proud to see how far they’ve come already. “We must also be proud of other women’s achievements and acknowledge them both publicly and privately. Only then will we see more women enter politics.” Sue Ellery, Minister for Education and Training (Labor) What does gender equality mean to you? “Gender equality means that there are no barriers or obstacles that are based on gender. “It might be that there are barriers and obstacles but they may be based on other things, such as a lack of talent, but that gender itself is not a barrier to achievement in whatever field that may be.” Which female politicians have inspired or encouraged you? “At a local level, there were two. “One was the late Senator Patricia Giles. She was one of the first senators that took their workload to the community. She placed her office in Joondalup, in the northern suburbs of Perth. Her staff worked closely with the local community this was back when the northern suburbs were growing and Joondalup, in particular, was new. “There were lots of young families there and not that many services or connection point to help them access community services. “Pat Giles made it her business for her office to facilitate this. At the same time, Pat at the national and international level she pursued really serious issues like world peace. “Pat was a very softly spoken but assertive and hard-working person. “One of her staff Cheryl Davenport, who went on to become an MP herself. Cheryl was active in leading abortion law reform for Western Australia. “Both Cheryl and Pat encouraged me to run for Parliament.” “Julia Gillard was a contemporary of mine when I was involved in student politics we both held positions in what was called the Australian Union of Students. We both worked out of the head office in Melbourne, we have known each other since were 19 or 20. “When she was Minister for Education and the Prime Minister her work ethic was like none I have ever seen. She had the capacity to stay calm and measured under enormous pressure, unlike anything I have ever seen before or since. “She maintained her sense of humour — she is a really funny person. “The capacity to keep it together under ridiculous and enormous personal pressure continues to be something I strive to do myself.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “All parties have to put measurable gender targets in place and there need to be consequences if they don’t make those targets. “The Labor Party has long had affirmative action policies. The other major parties need to do something about that. Proportionate gender representation doesn’t happen just in and of itself, it happens from determined, considered and deliberate policies.” “It happens because people at a specific time made a decision to make it happen. “Put a plan in place, implement the plan. “Until more parties in Australia do that I don’t see the composition of our parliaments changing too much.” Libby Mettam, Member for Vasse (Liberal) Which female politicians have inspired or encouraged you? “There are so many examples of strong female politicians who have and continue to inspire and encourage young women to participate in politics. “Julie Bishop is obviously a great example of a female politician and leader who has been as comfortable on the world stage as she has been in supporting her community at home. “Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher I hold in high regard for their leadership and decisiveness, and Angela Merkel, who is one of the most powerful leaders in Europe.” What inspired you to serve your community? “While I am continually inspired by the community I represent, I would say the driving force in wanting to serve my community comes from my family, and in particular ensuring that my daughters and their friends are able to have greater opportunities and a brighter futures living and working in regional WA.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “I am very optimistic over the future of gender equality in politics, and in particular that we will soon have a Parliament which reflects the diversity of gender, ethnicity and background, that makes our State great. “I am also confident that the best path to achieving this is not through electing politicians based on a quota system, but through a system based on merit and the qualities that come from hard work and perseverance.” Simone McGurk, Minister for Women and Communities (Labor) What does gender equality mean to you? “To me, achieving gender equality means that every woman and girl has the right to reach her full potential in all aspects of life. “Women must be free from discrimination and violence — in short, treated as equal partners.” What inspired you to serve your community? “When I was in high school, it became evident to me that I couldn’t take for granted the sort of opportunities that were available to many others. “I got a fire in my belly then, and it hasn’t gone out.” What is next for gender equality in politics? “I think it’s a long game, and people are right to be impatient — or as I have been known to put it, cranky — about the level of inequality that still exists. “But fundamental change is rarely quick. It is going to take time, persistence, courage and leadership to break down the inequality that is baked into our society. “There is still significant work to do, and we need strong voices — female and male — to continue to fight for gender equality in politics and beyond. “One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has made crystal clear is how crucial childcare is to not just women, but for all of society. I believe the next big reform in this space will be around reframing and restructuring our childcare system. “COVID has shown that we can change quickly when we want to. Let’s be ambitious and demonstrate that effectiveness in achieving gender equity. Our girls deserve nothing less.” The full interviews can be read online atwww.inherseat.org