NOW it’s getting interesting. Another candidate has entered the race for the seat of New England, bringing the running field so far to eight.
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There’s David Ewings for Country Labor, Barnaby Joyce for the Nats, the Greens Mercurius Goldstein, the Christian Democrats Archie Lea, Jamie McIntyre’s 21st Century, and three Independents in Tony Windsor, Rob Taber and Philip Cox (please note – these are listed in no particular order).
Amongst them there will be a broad array of opinions and policies – things they will each want to achieve if they are fortunate enough to gain the electorate’s confidence and, ultimately, their vote.
Everything from climate change and education, to mining and health have been bandied around as target areas.
But the one thing all the candidates have in common – and admittedly it’s not something that they can change – is that they are all men.
Where is the strong female voice in this political battle to the death?
Because so far it’s a very “he said, he said” race to the finish line in New England.
Now that’s not to say these “blokes” aren’t listening to the women of the electorate, it’d be political stupidity to ignore what the female voters have to say after all.
But a female candidate would really add another dimension to the debate – spark things up, if you like.
It’s not like we don’t have our female leaders in the community. There’s several high-profile female councillors, and there’s plenty of women who run their own retail businesses, and so have that grassroots connection.
Recent figures compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union have Australia ranked at number 56 in terms of the percentage of women in parliament ... behind countries like Andorra and Rwanda.
Although women make up more than half of the Australian population – only about 30 per cent of our parliamentarians – state and federal – are women.
Admittedly that glass ceiling was broken recently with Julia Gillard’s ascent to the top job – but that was short lived.
So there’s an opportunity there, all that’s needed is the right opportunist.