Women gaining equal representation on government boards

The Queensland Government’s targets for the number of women on boards are already paying off, with efforts to reach 50 per cent parity way ahead of schedule.

Minister for Communities and Women Shannon Fentiman said excellent progress was being made in tackling long-standing gender inequality and increasing leadership positions for women.

“In 2015, we set targets of 50 per cent of all new board appointees to Queensland Government bodies to be women and to have 50 per cent representation of women on Queensland Government bodies by 2020,” she said.

“We are already seeing very positive results that indicate we will reach these gender parity targets ahead of schedule.

“I am delighted that that there is now 43 per cent representation of women on Queensland Government bodies, which is up from 31 per cent in July 2015, which is ahead of where we need to be to reach this target on time.

“And we are on track to reach our target of 50 per cent of new appointees being women, having already reached 47 per cent as at 30 June 2017.”

Ms Fentiman said the progress made since the Palaszczuk Government took office showed that targets for female participation worked.

“When the LNP Government abandoned the target the number of women appointed to government boards fell from 43 per cent to 30 per cent,” Ms Fentiman said.

Ms Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government’s record of achievement in tackling gender inequality was in stark contrast to the record of the LNP.

“When Tim Mander made disgraceful comments about the representation of women on the Parole Board the silence from the LNP was deafening,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The LNP can be judged on the standard it is prepared to accept and it is a terrible failure that the party failed to stand up to be counted on this issue.”

Ms Fentiman said the numbers of women in the workforce were at record levels but women were still on average earning 16.4 per cent less than their male counterparts.

“We know women are under-represented in decision-making and leadership roles,” she said.

“This limits the opportunities for women to have their voices heard at senior, decision-making levels, and to contribute to civic, business and community life.

“That’s why we set our gender parity targets – and they are helping to tackle gender inequality and smash the glass ceiling.”

The Queensland Government committed $600,000 over three years to the Toward Gender Parity: Women on Boards Initiative.

Ms Fentiman said last year the Queensland Government released the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016-21. 

“The strategy sets out a shared vision for Queensland that the community respects women, embraces gender equality and promotes and protects the rights, interests and well-being of women and girls,” she said.

For more information go to  www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/women

ENDS

Media Contact:                                  Ron Goodman                        0427 781 920