Diversity advocates welcome new additions but say there is still a long way to go before parliament reflects Australian society

Australia’s new parliament looks set to be the most diverse, but there’s still a long way to go, diversity advocates say.

For the first time, both Northern Territory Senate spots will be held by Indigenous women – Labor’s Malarndirri McCarthy was re-elected and would be joined by the Country Liberal’s Jacinta Price.

Within the framework of cooperation between International IDEA and the Francophone network for competencies in elections (Réseau des compétences électorales francophone, RECEF), a report was published (in French) on “Equality between women and men within EMBs and in electoral processes: challenges and courses of action for the EMBs of RECEF”.

PLANS to reform Welsh politics hope to see the Senedd expanded to 96 members, with gender quotas and a shake up of constituencies with each selecting multiple members.

First Minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said they want Senedd reform to be implemented in time for the next election in 2026 - even if some of the changes are introduced on an interim basis.

The inclusivity of women in politics and decision-making is steadily rising across Africa. This could be the last frontier for sustainable development in Africa.

Africa has enormous potential to grow if it can take advantage of the untapped power that girls and women hold as societal and economic drivers. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the lack of inclusion of women in the economy will cost Sub-Saharan Africa as much as US$110 billion in 2022, and $190 billion in 2023.[1]