The Need for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Parliament

The under-representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the Australian Parliament highlights a significant gap compared to the broader population. While nearly 25% of Australians identify as coming from a non-European background, only 6.6% of Parliament members share this identity, with just 15 out of 227 MPs being people of color. This discrepancy calls for a serious examination of political representation, as it reflects the lack of diverse perspectives in crucial political discussions. Acknowledging these statistics emphasizes the urgency of implementing diversity targets to ensure that the Parliament is more reflective of Australian society.