Opinion: Coalition needs gender quota to shed its woman problem

The very concept of merit-based selection in politics is problematic, writes Paul Williams. Here’s why. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Australians’ trust in their elected representatives has been fragile ever since governor-general Sir John Kerr sacked Labor prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.

Trust often grows on the election of a popular new prime minister – Kevin Rudd in 2007 is a prime example – but collapses just as quickly when those same governments do stupid things. In fact, the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd revolving door was a disaster not just for Labor, but for public trust in all politicians.

Two politics topics regarding trust can stop a barbecue dead: pollies’ pay rises and quotas for women MPs. Yet I argue that to resist either is folly, and merely decreases the already shaky faith Australians have in their public institutions.

Let’s begin with salaries.

One of the great myths of pollie pay is that MPs “vote” themselves yearly salary increases. This is nonsense. Federal pollies – as they were this week – are awarded pay rises by an independent Remuneration Tribunal: the same body determining judges’ salaries. The number of voters I’ve met who do not know this is staggering.

Australian backbench MPs will now receive a 2.75 per cent increase – the first in three years and well below the inflation rate.

By contrast, the Fair Work Commission (quite rightly) this week increased the minimum wage by 5.2 per cent.

Yes, the prime minister now receives $564,000 per year (more than the British prime minister but less than the US president) – and backbenchers $217,000 per year – but that’s modest compared to the top rungs of the public service where, in 2021, 27 senior public servants earned more than $1 million annually.

Our prime minister’s pay is also dwarfed by that of Australia’s CEOs. In 2020-21, Australian corporate chiefs were awarded, on average, a 24 per cent pay rise, pushing some business head salaries to well above $10 million annually. And they earn that money without the media scrutiny MPs face daily.

Most pollies I know work also long hours, usually away from their families, and they have often surrendered well paid careers to engage in civic service. In short, don’t begrudge your local MP a pay rise. They have lives, too.

But if pollie pay can stir the blood, party quotas for women MPs will boil it for many a blue-collar bloke. But, once again, to deny the efficacy of quotas in improving a parliament’s representativeness is to deny the sky is blue.

Women comprise slightly more than 50 per cent of the population yet make up just 40 per cent of the House of Representatives.

Before the last election, 47 per cent of Labor MPs in both houses were women but, sadly, just 23 per cent of Liberals were female.

Labor addressed its “women’s problem” – females traditionally supported the Coalition more than males – long ago.

In 1994, Labor introduced a quota to ensure at least 35 per cent of its “winnable” seats go to women. Today, the goal is 50 per cent by 2025.

The Liberals, of course, reject quotas as patronising, instead insisting their MPs are elected on merit.

But the very concept of merit is problematic given women – and migrants, gay and trans Australians, the differently abled and other minorities – cannot play on a level political field. In assuming primary responsibility for child care that may also lock them out of educational and preselection opportunities, women in politics have the odds stacked against them.

And can anyone truly say that every Liberal male MP got there on sheer talent alone? Doesn’t factionalism, the business network and old school ties have anything to do with Liberal politics?

If nothing else, a quota for Liberal women MPs will close the gender vote gap that so cruelly crushed Scott Morrison’s government.

Indeed, a mid-campaign Newspoll found that 45 per cent of women supported Labor, and just 38 per cent the Coalition.

After years of a Coalition appearing to act too slowly on the gender wage gap, on child care, and on workplace safety (including in Parliament House), there’s no doubt the Liberals’ “woman problem” – already present under former prime minister Tony Abbott – had become a blight under Morrison.

The solution? Liberal senator Simon Birmingham – now Opposition leader in the Senate – has said it’s “absolutely” time to preselect more women.

But mere intentions are not enough. Only a quota for Liberal women MPs can solve the party’s “woman problem”.

That’s why Peter Dutton must begin at least begin the conversation, or be condemned as a failed opposition leader in 2025.