Most female candidates contesting unwinnable seats

Michelle Ryan, seated
Friday 13 May 2022

Just two-in-10 female candidates from Australia's major parties are contesting winnable seats in the 2022 federal election, new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) shows.   

Led by the ANU Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL), the analysis examines how many female candidates from both Labor and the Coalition are up for election in safe seats compared to marginal or unwinnable seats across 151 electorates in the House of Representatives.

The analysis found 20 per cent of female candidates in the Coalition were contesting winnable seats. In comparison, 46 per cent of Coalition male candidates are running in winnable seats.

For Labor, 24 per cent of the party's female candidates were contesting winnable seats, compared to 33 per cent of male candidates.

Professor Michelle Ryan, Director of GIWL, said the analysis shows "Australia has a long way to go to achieving gender equity in politics".

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Updated:  13 May 2022/Responsible Officer:  Institute Director/Page Contact:  CASS Marketing & Communications