Opposition censured for failing to endorse women candidates

The State Liberal Party was a long way from winning community respect because of its failure to recognise the contribution women could make to the parliament, senior Cabinet Minister Kay Hallahan said today.

Speaking after the defeat of Liberal candidate Joy West in the Ashburton by-election, Mrs Hallahan said if the Liberals selected women candidates at all, they were usually relegated to unwinnable or marginal seats.

"The failure of the Liberal Party hierarchy to endorse women for safe Liberal seats demonstrates a lack of respect for the contribution women can make to society," Mrs Hallahan said.

"It is a disgrace that there are so few Liberal women in parliament in a State with a woman premier and four women cabinet ministers - altogether 9 Labor women MP's."

Mrs Hallahan said she was speaking out because Liberal women would be unable to do so because of the fear of a party backlash.

"Barry MacKinnon cannot continually pass the buck to the Liberal Party branches - as leader he must take some responsibility for redressing the imbalance," she said.

"It is all very well to say that many more Liberal women are contesting seats in elections but that has not translated into more Liberal women in parliament."

The Minister said over the last few years there was a litany of missed opportunities where Liberal women could have entered parliament, including:

·         the Geraldton by-election, in which a 48 year old car salesman became the new Liberal member;

·         the Floreat by-election, in which the Liberals lost their safest seat to an Independent;

·         the by-election for the safe seat of Cottesloe, in which Colin Barnett became the new Liberal member;

·         the Floreat pre-selection for the 1993 State election, in which 64 year old Doug Jecks was endorsed over prominent businesswoman and civic leader Maria Torre;

·         the Tangney pre-selection for the next Federal election, where 49 year old Darryl Williams was endorsed over Mrs Terry Bolden, an expert on Federal-State relations who has since lodged an equal opportunity complaint; and

·         the pre-selection for the safe seat of South Perth, in which a 45 year old businessman has been nominated.

"Mr MacKinnon can try to claim that the best candidate is always selected regardless of gender - but it is curious that women always seem to miss out despite their excellent credentials.

"Mr MacKinnon and the rest of the Liberal hierarchy need to face up to reality and do something about it," Mrs Hallahan said.