What we're talking about

Linda on 3AW Online Community MASSIVE GARAGE SALE6A HENTY STREET, RESERVOIR (OPPOSITE MOORE CRESCENT) SATURDAY, 18TH MAY, 2013 8.30AM TO 3.00PM AND AGAIN ... more
Susan on Soccer should acknowledge 'boneheaded' ... In the last few weeks at Aussie Ball games - Police assaulted, capsicum sprayed used, the one African player you haveis ... more
Just a number on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... 'Get real' and 'Barr'y, the problem is not so much that the crew were having a meal break, but that they had been worked ... more
IAN on Too late to be watching Patton, Gillard ... This Gillard is a disgrace to Australia. I always voted LABOR ,and never will ever again,she should resign now and never to ... more
Caught in the crossfire on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... We must remember too that the meal windows and mandatory 10hour breakes between shifts were introduced over a couple of ... more
Gazza on Too late to be watching Patton, Gillard ... Lets hope Richo is right.low wages,no penalty rates,more immigrant workers working for $3 per hour.carnt wait.......... more
cath on Too late to be watching Patton, Gillard ... I can't take one day more of this incompetent government what a lousy bunch, We can't wait for the ELECTION to put this ... more
Caught in the crossfire on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... And another thing, if the computer aided despatch system we use (AMPDS) was actually up to the task this case would have ... more
Caught in the crossfire on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... This isn't just about us sitting around "feeding our faces" and not responding to cases. This is about fatigue management ... more
Kirk on Exit Afghanistan: It’s all about the war If the troops decide to stay put and put in more poppy 'seeds' that's their prerogative but when we have to pay for it then ... more
Jamie on Soccer should acknowledge 'boneheaded' ... Succer sucks anyway. more
Janet on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... No worries mate, at the first sign of something clicking and cracking in their body the first thing people will wish will be ... more
walter on Too late to be watching Patton, Gillard ... I hope Richo is right. It's about time this hybrid government got the bullet.After their inept governing of our once decent ... more
Dissatisfied Ambo on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... Hello Get Real. It is important that you realise that the meal break provisions which we currently have weren't "imposed" ... more
Archibald on Soccer should acknowledge 'boneheaded' ... Boneheaded is definitely an understatement. After decades of sports and people's immigration we have no idea any more what ... more
Dany on Jeff Kennett is in 'the first stage of ... Kennett wants what? He looks so much grey, unshaped and ugly just like his greatest achievement his beloved Fed ... more
Barry on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... I am eager to see the precious and pretentious bunch needing paramedics for themselves and their families. Too easy exacting ... more
Red on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... As a MICA paramedic I leave the radio on during all of my meal breaks simply because AV's call taking and dispatching is ... more
Ross on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... 'Who's really to blame", the call takers follow a set checklist of questions. They are not medically trained and not ... more
Rory on Life and death: Why weren't paramedics ... Get Real, I see your point. It must sound like we are happy to sit at our station having a cuppa and a gossip while people ... more

Should political parties and business groups have a quota system for women?

Posted by: Ellen Feely | 21 January, 2013 - 5:26 PM

With women under-represented in both Victorian and Federal parliaments, former Federal Liberal Party Senator Judith Troeth has called on the party to ensure more females were encouraged to stand for election.

Speaking with Tom Elliott, Judith Troeth who was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry between 1997 and 2004, said she had suggested in 2010 that the Liberal Party introduce a quota system for women.

Should business groups and political parties have quota systems to guarantee more women are represented? Comment below

"For all of my political life, both inside the party and in parliament, I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to see more women in Parliament," she said.

"There have been brief bursts of activity but I think the will is not there for larger numbers of women to come into parliament."

However Tom Elliott disagreed with merits of a gender quota system, saying once the quota precedent was set for women, other groups such as homosexuals and different ethnic groups would also be entitled to a quota.

"I do think that you should pick the right person to do the job, irrespective of gender," he said.

In the Victorian Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly which combined have 128 Members of Parliament, the Liberal Party is represented by 15 women and the ALP is represented by 24 women.

In Federal Parliament, of the 226 Members of Parliament in the House of Representative and Senate, the Liberal Party is represented by 19 women while the ALP is represented by 38.

LISTEN: Judith Troeth speaks with Tom Elliott:

Having problems listening? Upgrade your media player for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Firefox.

@ No Quota - you are spot on! Everywhere you look the quota system has loaded organisations with bitchy women even the magistracy, the civil service, police, military and so on it goes even by Gillard trashing a white woman and replacing her with another just because she wanted an aboriginal person in the job. It is bloody blatant 'legalised' discrimination indeed.

Sandra M Saturday 26 January, 2013 - 12:50 PM
Please excuse me 3AW: Bloody Hell "mylene"; I've just agreed with you. Am I going insane? Oh there is another alternative (thank Heaven): You might be moving slightly to the right. (I hope) Thanks 3AW.

David T. Friday 25 January, 2013 - 5:34 PM
Absolutely and categorically, not. A quota? We are trying to improve the quality of our politicians. Merit must be the criteria. Whether that results in a female or male politician is immaterial. Unfortunately, our current "leaders" seem to feel the pay rises they have received with quality improvement the aim, is some reward for their incompetence.

David T. Friday 25 January, 2013 - 4:31 PM
No way should there be a quota based on gender. Where you went to school and who your parents are however ... :p

mylene Tuesday 22 January, 2013 - 8:19 PM
Please name one good female politician (on either side) past or present. Certainly the former female state premiers and the current prime minister are and were, totally incompetent. This has nothing to do with gender...but fact. Many males are useless too of course.....

Graeme Tuesday 22 January, 2013 - 7:19 AM
One is either capable of doing a job or not. That is called merit. Merit is not defined by sex, religion nor ethnicity. However, merit according to those who support "positive discrimination", is not a prerequisite in selecting people for employment or education. The education system and employment system already practices sexual and racial discrimination. White men and women, regardless of their qualifications are routinely bypassed in (racial) preference to Australian indigenous people where it is POLICY to fill these indigenous quotas. The same perverse morality exists, blatantly, where men's qualifications are ignored in favour, by the plainly sexist policies of quotas, of less qualified women. There is no such thing as positive discrimination, only discrimination. And consider this....how does the indigenous person, or the women feel when they know that they have been installed ahead of better qualified persons purely by virtue of their sex or race? If you'd like to go one step further, from a human rights perspective where all people are to be considered equal, where do the practices and wishes of these pro quota types fit? Their notions are racist and sexist.

Eddy Monday 21 January, 2013 - 10:24 PM