Impact of Affirmative Action on Women's Representation

The introduction of affirmative action within the Labor Party in 1994 significantly transformed female representation in Australian politics. Initially, a mandatory quota aimed for 35% of winnable seats to be filled by women, which evolved to a 40-40 quota in 2012, and later to targets of 45% and 50% by 2022 and 2025, respectively. This initiative has resulted in a historic milestone, where the current federal government consists of a majority of female members, leading to the prioritization of women's issues such as paid parental leave and domestic violence policies. The increased engagement of women in federal politics has visibly shifted the landscape, addressing challenges that were often overlooked when there were fewer women in leadership roles.