A coming of age

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I don't want to discuss the personalities or policies of Julia, Kevin or Tony. I don't want to discuss Labour or Liberal, mining taxes or the next election.

I just want to comment that I am glad that 50 years after the world's first woman elected or appointed (ie not hereditary) head of state Australia has become the 44th country to have a woman head of state. IMO it's self evident that 50% of our elected representatives should be women and the HoS should be a woman 50% of the time - not, I hasten to add, because of a quota system but because I believe talent, motivation and commitment are equally distributed between the sexes (and, while were at it, between people of different sexual preference). While I always believed it would happen it was becoming noticable that Australia hadn't achieved what had been achieved by countries from Chile to Croatia, Pakistan to Panama (not to mention the Kiwis and Poms). I think we matured just a little bit today.

Just to emphasise my first point. This is not about Julia, nor party politics. It is about equality. Please limit any replies to that subject.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...24/2935697.htm

[Kal (Andrew)]

In terms of equality and the 50% ratio that just isn't accurate. The number of women working full time is not equal to the number of men working full time. A more accurate metric would be the % of women elected to prominent political positions is equal to the % of women that are employed in politics.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Andrew,

I'm not sure I quite understand you. If you are saying that if 10% (just to pick a number) of parlimentarians are women then 10% of senior positions should go to women I can see your point. The question then arises, why are <<50% of parlimentarians women? I can see a few possible reasons:

- women I are less interested in politics (I don't believe that)
- women have fewer role models in politics and less history of participating in politics (both true)
- political parties (especially the major parties) have a bias against women (probably still true but the situation is improving rapidly)
- women, as the primary care givers in society, have more difficulty in developing a career, in business or politics (true but again the situation is improving)
- a general diffuse feeling that running the world is the men's job (also true but changing)

Whatever the reason, society needs to address this imbalance. Until we do we are wasting talent, and talent in politics is something we don't have in excess.

[Kal (Andrew)]

To be honest I have no idea why there are less women in politics than there currently are (28.5% in lower house & 35.9% in upper house). If you want the full breakdown you can see it here

Women are certainly just as capable as men when it comes to politics.

[astroron (Ron)]

Australia has joined a number of other nations in having a woman as Prime Minister
I hope Julia Gillard does well

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Let's see what happens...

[h0ughy (David)]

Tha answer is Simple Doug - we have rules on the site, we follow them. if you want to talk politics go elsewhere to do that as there are other sites that cater for it.

Yes history was made - in all respects. If only we could get clear skies the way they cleared the decks?

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I just want to comment that I am glad that 50 years after the world's first woman elected or appointed (ie not hereditary) head of state Australia has become the 44th country to have a woman head of state.

Er, Quentin Bryce is our technical head of state and was appointed in 2008.

I can only assume you are referring to having a female prime minister who is our in practice head of state (not the actual head of state).

Both are good on both accounts, but will this mean anything different from the norm in practice? It's rhetorical, no need to answer.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Yes history was made -

But keep yer trap shut?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

it's bull**** doug

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

it's bull**** doug

bulldogs....yep

[renormalised (Carl)]

Personally, I don't think she'll do any better than KRudd, and neither would any of the others, from either side of politics.

But, good on her. At least she had the guts to challenge him

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

...

[pgc hunter]

Same dog, new set of fleas.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

Same dog, new set of fleas.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

We're drifting off topic folks. Julia is not the subject.

Paul, I take your point, however as you say PM is the practical head and I think that is much more significant. BTW I believe most (maybe all) state govenors are women.

[starlooker (Duc)]

I am a guy, and I think it's great to have a woman PM. I hope that humanity will eventually shift from patriarchal to matriarchal.

[rally]

I think the Queen is actually our Head of State and has been for nearly 60 years ?!

Sure - the Queen is a Ceremonial Matriarch but as stated the PM is to a large degree ceremonial in a Westminster style democracy too.

The Queen's Australian Agent is our Governer General and as I recall has previously sacked our PM under rights conferred by the Constitution !

[astroron (Ron)]

Sure - the Queen is a Ceremonial Matriarch but as stated the PM is to a large degree ceremonial in a Westminster style democracy too.

Are you sure you don't want to rephrase this?

[pgc hunter]

Let's rephrase our government with something competent.