Women dominate the make up of and the engagement with local campaigns. For example women account for 70% of the High School for Coburg (Melbourne)campaign’s 455 facebook likers and nearly all the online engagement. Unfortunately these generous proportions are not reflected in the formal political realm. How do we enable this demonstrably very high level of local political engagement to extend further into and up the formal political structures? Is social media an important enabler?

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Winning Question
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We need to change the structure and culture of traditional politics, because no amount of "review" or promises of reform, by the major political parties, has ever led to meaningful change that opens up the system to "outsiders" ie women generally and women who are not products of the male factional system. There's a real conflict of interest where those with most to lose by changing the system and charged with the task. You won't win preselection, for example, unless you court the power-brokers and branch stackers whose investment in the status quo and career ambitions long pre-date the HSC movement. The HSC women, who are showing their commitment to community, skills and effectiveness would struggle to beat the internal systems of the parties. Creating new avenues to reach out is vital. Social media will be a major tool.
mel R · 2 years ago