In a campaign led by Australia's most influential women MP, Dr Carmen Lawrence, the ruling Labor Party intends to ensure that women will hold at least 35 per cent of the party's seats by the year 2002. But. Gemini News Service reports, the move faces resistance from the party's left-wing.
Australian Health Minister Dr Carmen Lawrence has given herself the task of convincing women lo lake up a political career she knows can be miserable lonely and exhausting.
In a political climate dominated by men, l^wrence the country's most influential woman MP. is In charge of a programme to boost the number of Labor Party seats held by women to 35 per cent by the year 2002
Currently, women hold only eight per cent of all the 147 seats In the House of representatives (Lower House) and 22 per cent of the 76 Senate (Upper House.) seats.
"For a country with auch democratic traditions as ours. I think it is Incongruous that we have a national House of Parliament with If) times as many men as women " Prime Minister Paul Keating said at a recent recepi ion
Tf* in unacceptable waste of talent Women s equality la not yet a reality and one of our greatest challenges Is to ensure wonleti become lull par ticlpanu In making govern merit and private sector deci Mons that affect us all."
The plan require* party branches to hand at least 35
per cent ot winnable seats — Labor-held seats or Liberal seats with leas than a five per cent margin — to female candidates. The policy could put up to 60 women tn winnable seats wtthln the next eight years
Despite support from Keating and the party's na tional executive. Lawrence's af-flrmative action plan faces re sistance from Labor's left wing, which has warned It will oppose any move lo overturn the rank-and file pre selection system In order to ensure women get more seats.
In New South Wales, the Labor Left is also vehemently opposed 10«changing Ute preselection system. fearing that left-controlled seats will be lost
Left wing spokesman An ihonv Albanese claims his faction has already decided to increase the number of lemale
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