Bullies in the playground

The ACT Party has always had the sniff of a playground bully about them, especially when it comes to the treatment of their women MPs. The truth is, men are more highly valued than women in their party, and their list selection process has always reflected this.

Heather Roy seemed, for a long time, an exception. A politician focussed on the issues, she has worked very hard on her portfolios. I rarely support her goals, but she is a tenacious and effective MP holding, until today, the most difficult of positions – Minister outside Cabinet in a minority party.

Today, the boy bullies ganged up on her and dumped as Deputy Leader of ACT. She dared to challenge the head bully over his use of parliamentary funds. She is the last surviving of the five women who have been elected as ACT MPs. If she decides to resign from Parliament, another woman, Hilary Calvert, will take over as MP.

If Hilary decides not to take up her seat (and who could blame her), there are seven men behind her on the ACT list. That’s right, there were only 3 women in the top 14 of ACT’s party list in 2008.

I am sure the party would be happier with an all-bloke caucus. They may yet get one.

ENDS

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