Yes, more women are running for office in the Federal Election – but not in winnable seats
It’s exciting to see that a record-breaking number of women are running in this Federal Election, but the numbers mask the real story – according to new research from ANU, just two in 10 female candidates are contesting winnable seats. Male candidates are overwhelmingly more likely to be up for election in safe, winnable seats.
This shows that the success of women in politics does not hinge on whether women are running for office alone – it’s whether their party is giving them a reasonable chance to win. What message does it send to women and girls aspiring to political careers when they see Australia’s major political parties sending women to contest electoral races that they’re almost certain to lose?
These statistics demonstrate the need for large-scale structural reform in Australian party politics, particularly when it comes to candidate selection. Women for Election is playing it’s part in lifting the number of female candidates – now it’s up to the parties to run them in winnable positions.
This research also demonstrates the value of top-tier institutes like the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at ANU (founded by Julia Gillard) closely examining electoral statistics to reveal the real story behind the numbers and advocate for reform.
WOMEN FOR ELECTION CEO, Licia Heath was quoted in today’s Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Glass cliff’: Pink wave unlikely at next election with women in unwinnable seats
“Don’t vote against your values. That’s not what we’re saying. We’re saying if there’s a candidate there who aligns with your values, and they’re a woman, put ‘one’ next to that name,”
For a comprehensive list of every woman running in the 2022 Australian Federal election, read on!
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
Thank you to The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the Australian National University for their valuable research.
