According to SBS News, 71% of Australians want a more diverse parliament. Yet, Australia’s Parliament, with its 227 seats, still does not fairly and equally represent the greater Australian population.
'Politics in Colour' brought together The Hon. Linda Burney, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Ms Jenny Leong MP, and Ms Kaushaliya Vaghela MP to speak about what it’s like being a woman, an MP and Indigenous or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), as well as how we can diversify Australia’s parliament.
It’s important to recognise there are systems and structures in place that are preventing women – and particularly women of colour – participating in our democratic systems, and that’s across the board. – Jenny Leong MP
For me politics is about the courage to do the right thing, to push boundaries, to stick your neck out for something that you really believe in and to say it like it is, to be a voice for people who generally wouldn’t be heard in places of power, and to shake up the system to make it better. – Senator Mehreen Faruqi
Speakers
The Hon. Linda Burney is the Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians. She is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, and is the longest serving Indigenous female politician in Australia's history.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi is a Greens Senator for NSW and Spokesperson for Education, Housing, Industry and Animal Welfare. Dr Faruqi became the first Muslim woman to sit in any Australian parliament when she joined the NSW Parliament in 2013. She is a civil and environmental engineer and a life-long activist for social and environmental justice.
Ms Jenny Leong MP is the Member for Newtown in the NSW State Parliament and the Greens NSW spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Human Rights. She is a passionate advocate for equality, justice, and human rights – and has a long track record of standing up and speaking out against racism, sexism, discrimination and the politics of fear.
Ms Kaushaliya Vaghela MP is a Member of the Legislative Council for the Western Metropolitan Region in Victoria and a member of the Australian Labor Party. She is the first Indian-born Member of Parliament to be elected to the Victorian Parliament and the first Indian-born Hindu to enter any Parliament in Australia.
Presented by Women's Business Australia in partnership with Women for Election Australia. Supported by the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion.