Bill Shorten, one of the two contenders in Labor’s leadership race has put forward the idea that their should be a quota system to ensure that more LGBTI people are represented in the national’s parliament.
Mr Shorten published his proposal in a document that he has sent out to all party members as they choose between himself and former Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be the next leader of the party.
Taking inspiration from former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Mr Shorten has repeated the call of “Party, Policies, People” to outline his vision for a reinvigorated Labor party. Mr Shorten said the party should consider quotas to ensure minorities are represented including indigenous Australians, the LGBTI community and that more women need to be running for office.
The suggestion has been welcomed by Rainbow Labor, the LGBT group within the party. Convener Neil Fharaoh welcomed the proposal.
“The LGBTI community has been underrepresented, particularly in political seats, both at a state and federal level in Australia,” said Mr Fharaoh.
“There’s probably only 12 gay and lesbian identifying politicians across the country and probably not too much more in the history and its definitely under-representative.”
Appearing this morning on the ABC’s ‘Insiders’ program Mr Shorten said the party needed to become a bigger party and represent a greater diversity of Australians.
“I think the most important thing we can do is grow the party membership”, Mr Shorten told host Barrie Cassidy, “With more people you get, greater transparency, more accountability, greater interest, less cynicism, more authenticity and a much wider range of views.”
Mr Shorten rhetorically asked how it was the Collingwood Football Club could get nearly twice as many members of the Labor party, before suggestion that the party should make it easier to join, utilise technology more and reach out to a wider range of potential candidates.
OIP Staff
