Qld politics: Labor may miss gender quota targets

It takes the LNP to task over gender quotas, but Queensland Labor is in danger of missing its own targets. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queensland Labor is at risk of being unable to reach its affirmative-action targets after Premier Annastacia ­Palaszczuk backed all of her MPs to run at the next state election.

Women will need to be preselected in at least 45 per cent of the seats currently held by the Government at the 2024 election under Labor’s rules, which will require two existing male MPs to resign.

But when asked on Monday if some of the incumbent Labor male MPs should make way for new female candidates, Ms Palaszczuk said that she supported every single one of her MPs to contest the next poll.

“And in winnable seats – so yes, we will be targeting seats off the LNP and the Greens – I would like to see a lot more women,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I support all of my members to run and contest at the next election, full stop.”

Women currently make up 40 per cent of Labor’s 52-member caucus, which is still significantly more than the LNP – with women making up 17 per cent of their party room.

Under Labor’s rule, women will need to be preselected in 45 per cent of seats held by the party from 2022, and from 2025 this will increase to 50 per cent.

The same rules will apply to candidates who are preselected in winnable seats held by opposition parties with margins of less than 5 per cent.

As she was questioned about the matter on Monday, Ms Palaszczuk used the opportunity to attack the LNP and told the media to ask the LNP about their record on women.

“I sit there (in Parliament) opposite them – there’s hardly any women in the LNP,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The LNP have a female problem, not the ALP.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan, who was with Ms Palaszczuk at her media conference, said he had “lots more to do” when he was asked if he was willing to step back at the next election to make way for a woman.

Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders said on Monday the party had ­always reached its affirmative action targets.

“The Labor Party is very proud of our track record on affirmative action and of electing people who are of and from their communities, and who are great community champions,” she said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has recently sidestepped questions over whether he supports quotas to boost gender diversity in the LNP party room.

He wants women to run as candidates in seven of the 14 most marginal seats the LNP needs to win at the next election to form government.