Matt Kean to appoint more women to boards after gender equality comments slammed

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean recently criticised major companies for the lack of women in boardrooms- but Labor has accused him of failing to meet his own standards.

Treasurer Matt Kean has been accused of failing to live up to his own gender equality standards by not appointing more women to government boards.

Mr Kean last week publicly shamed major companies for not having enough women on their boards, telling Nine newspapers that “women make up half our population and should make up half our boardrooms”.

Mr Kean called for public companies to set targets to boost their female representation.

​​“I’m calling on listed companies to set KPIs, be transparent and take proactive steps to increase female leadership across their organisation,” he said to Nine newspapers last week.

But women only make up 37 per cent of positions on NSW government boards that fall under Mr Kean’s Treasury portfolio.

NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Analysis of government boards by State Labor also found that 19 of 22 chairs of boards under the Treasury portfolio are men.

Labor Deputy Leader Prue Car seized on the figures, declaring Mr Kean should increase women on boards under his portfolio before attacking others.

“It’s a case of ‘do as I say, not as I do,” Ms Car said.

“The NSW Government should look at its own poor record on appointing women to boards,” she said.

“There’s no doubt that private sector boards can do better, but Matt Kean should lead by example rather than lecture.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said he will move to boost the representation of women on boards under his portfolio.

“As environment minister I set a 50 per cent gender target for energy and environment boards, now I am responsible for the Treasury portfolio I intend to take steps to boost female participation rates in this important part of government as well,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Kean said Treasury oversees a number of government boards. “Women currently fill about 40 per cent of those board positions, which is multiples better than the companies the Treasurer named,” the spokeswoman said.