Nothing to do with gender, but personal aspirations. Some women are very powerful and competent at the helm of giant corporations and instituitions, and well respected by their male counterparts. Presently our country with a woman at the helm as [de facto] P.M. is suffering a style of engagement which is abhorrent to other successful women who openly gained their positions through hard work, not back door deals and less than savoury means. Political appointments should be made based on competence not gender.

Wow Jan, your comment only demonstrates it's own flaws

It's a no-brainer that our political leaders should be reflective of the community. That means more women and diversity generally. But our political institutions have always been shaped by men, including all the formal and informal rules of engagement. By their exclusion for so long, perhaps more women side-stepped the worst motivations of that system:money, power, greed. As for a "free ride", not sure where that exists! My success comes from hard work and long hours etc. I do think that the not-for-profit sector is a great example of talented and inspirational leadership, where you can have a much more significant, influential and life changing impact on the community, to a far greater degree than the vast majority of politicians will ever have in their careers. Impact seems to be coming from outside the political arena these days. I wouldn't swap my world now.

Female participation in politics is important simply since they are born more advanced than males and men never catch up. Hence if you need a good outcome one needs at least a 50/50 division of female male MP's

Why do women "feel" they need a free ride where politics or business is concerned. At the moment, no woman can make any claim that they have achieved their position on their own ability as the current laws in place demand that women be employed before any man. This is sexism and special privilege. Why is it that women cannot or refuse to except that hard work and long hours will guarantee a promotion and more money, not your genitalia..