Let’s get the ‘Parliament we want’ by better supporting new women MPs

As a community we want women to thrive. This is also true for women serving in Australian parliaments. Having served for 12 years in the NSW Parliament as the first female Attorney-General and in other senior ministries, I believe a critical mass of women MPs leads to positive cultural change. 

What is important, but often overlooked, however, is our responsibility to equip new women MPs with the skills to successfully navigate parliament. My study tour to Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom¹ convinced me that a short, bespoke practical training program would help to close that gap. 

It would better help women navigate the unique culture, practices and conventions of parliaments and build the ‘parliament we want’ as a community. It could also prepare women MPs for dealing with harassment, abuse or intimidation, often through social media, that they more commonly experience than men.²

Australian parliaments were slow to include women in their ranks. The NSW Legislative Assembly was the first continuously sitting parliament in Australia from 1856, yet it was not until 1925 that Millicent Preston-Stanley was elected as the NSW Parliament’s first female MP. Women were eligible to vote in federal elections from 1902 yet the first women were elected to the Federal Parliament in 1943. 

Women represent over half of the Australian population, but they are still underrepresented in most of Australia’s parliaments. A lot has been written about how we could increase the representation of women in Australian parliaments and there is an acknowledgement that a critical mass of women MPs would make it a better place for women to work. 

In the meantime, however, a practical induction program would help ensure new women MPs have the best possible experience after they are elected and would equip them for success. 

Australian parliaments have traditionally been male-dominated institutions. Their structure and the stereotypes of politicians and politics reflect this, and it has led to a masculine culture being embedded in parliaments’ practices and conventions.³

The traditionally combative and divisive nature of the parliamentary chamber is an example of a culture that has not materially changed over time. It can be a daunting experience for new MPs, especially for women.^4,5 Although there have been recent positive workplace changes, this legacy culture makes parliaments challenging environments for women MPs to work in and succeed.⁶

Before the parliamentary sittings begin for a new term of government, most parliaments run short induction programs for new MPs, mainly focused on legal, procedural and administrative matters. 

These are important programs, but they do not apply a gender-sensitive lens to how parliament works or its culture and conventions. That kind of knowledge is usually gained by MPs on the job and often learnt the hard way through making mistakes. Although I discovered overseas programs run by political parties addressing the gap, that was not the case with the parliaments. 

My strong belief is that a practical induction program that prepares new women MPs for their roles would increase their ability to navigate the day-to-day challenges of the Parliament. The program should include information on parliamentary practices and conventions, practical tips and hands-on training including speaking in the parliamentary chamber.  

This program could also build fellowship and support networks between new women MPs. As a former minister I know that relationships across the Parliamentary Chamber are vital to being able to get things done.

We want new women MPs to thrive in their role. Better supporting them in a practical way also means we will build the ‘Parliament we want’ as a community.