IT’S THE MECHANISM STUPID!

ALP AND VICTORIA

BENEFITS FROM LABOR’S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Media Release
Thursday 13 December 2018
______________________________________________________________

A gender analysis of the now declared results of the Victorian Parliament demonstrates the
overwhelming impact of Victorian Labor’s Affirmative Action policy for Victorians in a more reflective
Parliament and policies reflecting the experiences of women. The Coalition’s 29% female
representation in the Parliament, against Labor’s 48%, shows up they’re still male, pale and stale.

Analysis and trends highlighted by the crunching of VEC and historical Parliamentary Library data in
the attached tables and charts shows the following. All quotes attributable to Hutch Hussein,
Victorian ALP State President.

VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT-WIDE ANALYSIS – data uploaded here

1. Across both houses, Women MPs represent 41.4% (53/128), men 75 (59%)
2. Compared to the last parliament, this represents an increase of 1.6% (39.8%/2014)
3. There are 50% women and men within the group of lower house cross-benchers – this slips to
41% across both houses

ALP SPECIFIC ANALYSIS

4. Across both houses, Labor Women MPs represent 48% (35/73), men 52% (38/73)
5. Compared to the last parliament, this represents an increase of 3.8% (9 more women), 2014
elected 26 representing 44.1% of its Caucus
6. In the Lower House, ALP women represent 45%, whilst in the Upper House, ALP women
represent 54% of the Labor Caucus -

“I’m so proud Victorian Labor at 48% is closer than ever to reflecting 51% of Victoria’s female
population. The Victorian public responded well to the Party’s preselection of a diverse group of
women in both our Lower House seats (45%) and on our Upper House tickets (54%). There has been
concern nationally inside the Party that Upper Houses were not keeping pace. This result of 54%
Labor women shows Victoria leading the way amongst the states! ”, said Ms Hussein.

LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY ANALYSIS

7. Across both houses, LNP Women MPs represent 29% (11/38), men 71% (27/38)
8. Compared to the last parliament, this represents a decrease of 4 in numbers from 15 to 11, but
mainly due to reduced caucus, they have a slight percentage increase of 0.6%. In 2014 they
elected 15 representing 28.3% of their Caucus.
9. In the Lower House, LNP women represent 22%, whilst in the Upper House, LNP women
represent 45% of the LNP Caucus

“When the Coalition experiences swings, it loses women in the marginal seats. They need to learn
the lesson from Labor that adopting an Affirmative Action quota which mandates the pre-selection
of women in safe seats is the only way to consistently increase women’s representation. It’s sad
that the Liberal Party has more David’s than women and that National Party has as many Tim's as it
has women in the Lower House (2 of each!)”, said Ms Hussein.

See overleaf for comparisons from 1994 to 2018 – data uploaded here

Page 1 of 2
COMPARING THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT - 1994 TO 2018 – LIBERAL PARTY VS ALP
10. From 1994, when Labor introduced its Affirmative Action Policy, the Parliament’s female
representation has increased from 12% (16) to 41% (53) - a 231% increase
11. Labor has increased its female representation by 500% in 24 years from 7 (17%) to 35 (48%) -
a jump of 28 women.
12. In 24 years, the Victorian Liberal Party has DECREASED its female representation from 9 to 8
women. Owing to a changing Caucus, in percentage terms, that’s only manifested as an
increase from 12% to 24%. The Liberal Party peaked with 15 women (28%) in 2010.

Party comparison on Women's Representation in Vic

State Parliament by Election since ALP Affirmative
60.0
Action introduced in 1994

50.0 47.9
40.7 44.3
40.2
% of women

40.0 41
36.8 37.5 ALP
30.3 33.8 32.8
30.0 29.7 LP
28.3 24.2
23.1 26.3 25
20.0 25 Vic
17.1 18.916.9
18.4
Parl
10.0 12.1 12.5
11.8

0.0
1994 - AA 1996 1999 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
starts election election election election election election election

Election Year

Quotes attributable to Ms Hussein:

“Just as it has in the Labor Party, an Affirmative Action policy would ensure that in future the Liberal
Party powerbrokers would more actively seek women for safe seats. Safe seats of Brighton,
Sandringham and Nepean were a missed opportunity for the Liberal Party last time. A policy
provides the mechanism for the Party executive to undo local pre-selections when a statewide quota
has not been met. You can’t keep putting women solely in marginal or unwinnable seats”.

“Recently, the new Liberal Party Leader, Michael O'Brien, in explaining his opposition to quotas, was
quoted as saying, ‘I'm far more interested in the outcome than the mechanism”. This data,
demonstrating that the Liberal Party has decreased its representation from 9 to 8 in 24 years, whilst
the ALP has increased it by 500% from 7 to 35 highlights, to paraphase James Carville that "It's the
mechanism stupid!" Systemic sexism requires systemic change in the form of Party Rules. The ALP
has reaped the benefits of both talented women's input in our policies and electoral success in more
closely reflecting the community with now 48% in its ranks. We look forward to the Liberal Party
joining the 21st century sometime soon so that Victorians can benefit from their full talent pool”.

“On behalf of Labor women everywhere, today I pay tribute to our sisters who have fought to
introduce the 35% Affirmative Action quota in 1994, increased it in 2004 to 40/40/20 by 2012 and
we now have a target of 50/50 by 2025. I also want to acknowledge the pioneering work of EMILY’s
List, who have complemented the Party’s rule changes with the necessary support – funds, training,
mentoring and gender gap research. Combined, we’ve made a powerful difference. Rules and
culture change together are what ensures we can be the modern Party Victorians expect”.

Media Contact: Vic ALP President, Hutch Hussein - hutch.hussein@vic.alp.org.au / 0438 507 103

Page 2 of 2
 Summary Analysis

Gender Analysis of 59th Victorian Parliament post 2018 Election by Victorian ALP
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT SUMMARY Gender Analysis Across Both Houses Gender Analysis Across Both Houses Vic Lower House - Gender by Party
- -
MLAs MLCs Total No Both houses Total % 90%
Vic Parl - Nov 2018 Vic Parl - Nov 2014
Male 54 21 75 Male, 78%
80%
61% 53% Male 58.6% Female, Female,
70%
Female 34 19 53 Female 41.4% 41.4% 39.8%
60% Male, 55%
39% 48% 128 Male, Male, Male, 50% Female, 50%
58.6% 50% Female, 45%
60.2%
40%
30% Female, 22%
20%
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT SUMMARY - BY PARTY & BY HOUSE 10%
LOWER HOUSE UPPER HOUSE GRAND 0%
Male - No. % Female-No. % Total Male - No. % Female-No. % Total TOTAL ALP LNP OTHER
ALP 30 55% 25 45% 55 8 44% 10 54% 18 73
LNP 21 78% 6 22% 27 6 55% 5 45% 11 38
OTHER 3 50% 3 50% 6 7 64% 4 36% 11 17 Vic Upper House - Gender by Party
TOTAL 54 88 21 19 40 128 70%
Male, 64%
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT SUMMARY - BY PARTY of TOTAL PARLIAMENT
ALP - Gender Rep in 60% Female, 54%
BOTH HOUSES - 2018 BOTH HOUSES 2014 Male, 55%
Male - No. % Female-No. % Total No. Male 60.2%
Caucus
ALP 38 52% 35 48% 73 Female 39.8% 50%
Male, 44% Female, 45%
LNP 27 71% 11 29% 38
OTHER 10 59% 7 41% 17 Female,
47.9% Male, 40% Female, 36%
TOTAL 75 128
52.1%

ALP vs LNP Diff'ce in Women between elections ALP vs LIB Diff'ce in Women between elections 30%
2014 2018 Diff'ce % 2014 2018 Diff'ce %
ALP 44.1% 47.9% 3.8% ALP 44.1% 47.9% 3.8%
LNP 28.3% 28.9% 0.6% LIB 28.3% 28.9% 0.6% 20%

2014 2018 Diff'ce No's 2014 2018 Diff'ce No's LNP - Gender Rep in Caucus
ALP 26 35 9 ALP 26 35 9 10%
LNP 15 11 -4 LIB 11 8 -3
Female,
28.9% 0%
ALP LNP OTHER

Male,
71.1%

Vic Parl- Gender by Party 2014 vs 2018

80.0%

LNP, 71.7% LNP, 71.1%

70.0%
60.0%

60.0%

50.0%

ALP, 52.1%

ALP, 47.9% 50.0% ALP, 47.9%

40.0% ALP, 44.1% ALP, 44.1%
ALP, 40.7%
40.0%

30.0%

30.0%
LNP, 28.3% LNP, 28.9%

LNP, 28.3% LNP, 28.9%

20.0%
20.0%

10.0%
10.0%

0.0% 0.0%
2014 2018 2014 2018
2014 2018
Male Female

Contact: Victorian ALP President, Hutch Hussein - hutch.hussein@vic.alp.org.au / 0438 507 103
Table 1: VIC STATE PARLIAMENT - Representation of Women -24 Year Comparison since Affirmative Action introduced in 1994 to 2018 Table 2:
Party Comparison - Women's Representation
ALP LP Whole State Parl COMMENTS
Election Year % % %
No's % Women No's % Women No's % Women ALP LP Vic Parl
Prior to this, 1992 election wiped out small number of women
As at 1994 7 17.1 As at 1994 9 11.8 As at 1994 16 12.1 that were there 1994 - AA starts 17.1 11.8 12.1
1996 election 9 23.1 1996 election 14 18.4 1996 election 25 18.9 1996 election 23.1 18.4 18.9
1999 election 21 36.8 1999 election 10 16.9 1999 election 33 25 ALP triples it representation in 5 years from 7 to 21 1999 election 36.8 16.9 25
2002 election 35 40.2 2002 election 4 12.5 2002 election 40 30.3 2002 election 40.2 12.5 30.3
2006 election 25 33.8 2006 election 10 26.3 2006 election 38 29.7 ALP goes backwards after peak in 2002 Brackslide 2006 election 33.8 26.3 29.7
2010 election 24 40.7 2010 election 15 28.3 2010 election 42 32.8 2010 election 40.7 28.3 32.8
2014 election 27 44.3 2014 election 11 25 2014 election 48 37.5 ALP nearly quadruples its rep in 20 years from 7 to 27 2014 election 44.3 25 37.5

ALP quintuples (500%!) its rep in 24 years from 7 (17%) to

35 (48%) - a jump of 28 women. Meanwhile, Liberal Party
2018 election 35 47.9 2018 election 8 24.2 2018 election 53 41 goes from 9 (12%) women to 8 (24%) in same time, 2010 was
2018 election 47.9 24.2 41
peak at 15 (28%). Vic Parl from 12% to 41% (29% jump)
Source: Federal Parliamentary Library, Composition of Australian Parliaments by Party and Gender

Graph 1: ALP's Performance at Victorian State level - Women MPs by Number & Percentage from 1994 to 2018 Graph 3: Party comparison on Women's Representation in Vic State Parliament by Election since AA introduced in 1994

ALP's Performance at Victorian State level - Women MPs Party comparison on Women's Representation in Vic State Parliament by Election since
ALP Affirmative Action introduced in 1994
60
60.0
50 47.9
44.3% 50.0
40.2% 40.7% 47.9
40 40.7 44.3
36.8% 35 35 40.2

% of women
33.8% 40.0 41
Women

36.8 37.5
ALP No's ALP
30 27 30.3 33.8 32.8
25 24 30.0 29.7 LP
23.1% ALP %
21 28.3 Vic Parl
Women 23.1 26.3 24.2
20 25 25
17.1% 20.0 17.1 18.9 16.9
18.4
9
10 10.0 12.1 12.5
7 11.8

0 0.0
As at 1994 1996 1999 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 1994 - AA 1996 1999 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
election election election election election election election starts election election election election election election election
Election Year Election Year

Graph 2: Liberal Party's Performance at Victorian State level - Women MPs by Number & Percentage - 1994 to 2018 Graph 4: Women's Representation over 20 years in Vic State Parliament by Election since AA introduced in 1994

Liberal Party's Performance at Vic State level - Women MPs by No & Percentage Victorian State Parliament - Rep of Women MPs
30 28.3%
26.3% 60
25% 53
25 24.2
50 48
42 41
20 40
18.4% 40 38 37.5%
Women MPs

16.9%
Women MPs

33 30.3% 29.7% 32.8%

15
15 14
12.5% 30
11.8% 25 25%
11
10 10 18.9%
10 9 20
8 16
12.1%
5 4 10

0 0
As at 1994 1996 election 1999 election 2002 election 2006 election 2010 election 2014 election 2018 election As at 1994 1996 1999 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
election election election election election election election
Election Year Election Year

Contact: Victorian ALP President, Hutch Hussein - hutch.hussein@vic.alp.org.au / 0438 507 103

1994 vs2018 -Party & Parl Comp