Hey any women who want to have a go and stand up for your community just go to www.tapp.org.au

from there send me an email.

Theres oppertunity if you want.

stuart

www.tapp.org.au

Rebekka, "We should be encouraging SHARED responsiblity for these things through good public policy - not expecting one parent to do it all." - spot on.

Unions and equality advocates still seem to be pushing for maternity leave with much more vigor than parental leave.

From what I've seen there is a massive shift underway in regard to acceptance of the idea of stay at home dads. Men are beginning to understand that the responsibility to provide need not outweigh the responsibility and opportunity for hands on parenting.

Dads are well represented doing the picks ups at my sons out of school hours care.

As for the 85% figure you mention I've seen similar before but when you dig a bit deeper you find that it is often selective. Traditional male jobs around the home are generally excluded (yard work, repairs etc), commute time is often excluded. Like most things the authors of those kind of studies put the spin they want on them. Other studies suggest that men do a greater total of work (paid and unpaid) - pick your preferred view and there will be a study to support it.

R0bert

I'm with Rhian on this one.

Some female politicians are right up there with Bill Heffernan when it comes to issues concerning women.

They're privileged positions in life has made them blind to empathy for those less privileged.

Yes, our country is under the control of a small group of tired, old, white men.

Where are the minorities? Yes there are a few but they don't represent our society. Look at the Cabinet, and Caucus.

JamesH is very naive. You have to be preselected to get elected mate. Who picks those people? Not the public, the Parties do. Every seat has women vying for preselection but they don't get a chance, especially the talented ones. They might actually challenge the tired, old, white men who cling to power with every ounce of their beings. For what? In the end, money of course.

Country Gal. If you have two high flyers in the family there is no family, just like you say.

Of course you can take advantage of the child care rebates aimed at these people, the people with high incomes. But you don't see those kids you had do you?

To those who bang on about women having to stay home to look after their kids, they don't. If they have a partner that is. Father's do the job just as well and are doing so in increasing numbers.

Those who decry women's roles in politics do think about it. Only those who obey orders get the nod. Full stop. Remember Amanda, that saviour of women's rights and now, spaghetti futures. Not exactly a champion of anything but Howard's policies was she?

You want equal representation for women in Parliament?
Simple.
Require all parties to field two candidates for each seat.
One female, one male (or equal multiples thereof).

Count the votes together to see which party wins.
Count the individual votes for the candidates to see which one takes office.
Be Democratic...Let the voters decide.