Clive Palmer (Fairfax, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, it is 114 years since women received the vote—a long time ago. It took them 41 years to get a member in parliament, yet in your ministry you have got a significantly lower proportion of women than voted at the elections. Does the government think Liberal women members are less worthy or of lower merit—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fairfax will resume his seat. Members on my right will cease interjecting. I cannot hear the question.

Mr Whiteley interjecting—

The member for Braddon! The member for Fairfax will start his question again. The clock will be reset.

Clive Palmer (Fairfax, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. It is 114 years since women received the vote—a long time ago. It took them 41 years to get a member in parliament, yet in your ministry you have got a significantly lower proportion of women than voted at the elections. Does the government think Liberal women or members are less worthy or of lower merit than their Liberal male colleagues, or do you just say you believe in gender equality and fail to do anything about it?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Ewen Jones (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order. There are 237 people who have lost their jobs in Queensland Nickel, and a fair few of them are women and they are still wanting their things.

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting. The member for Herbert knows that was a completely frivolous point of order against the standing orders. He was warned at the beginning of the day, and that warning carries over. The member for Herbert will leave under 94(a).

The member for Herbert then left the chamber.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert was not, of course, in order, but the point that he made about the women and men who have lost their jobs in Queensland Nickel was nonetheless very well made. The honourable member for Fairfax should consider his responsibilities to those men and women.

Mr Mitchell interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McEwen is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

when he raises issues of this kind.

Let me say, Mr Speaker, there are nine women in the executive government—five in the cabinet. Looking around our party rooms, we have a lot of talent from a lot of women. We have women who have been journalists, women who have been teachers, university lecturers and an army officer. Many of our women members have had experience in small business; there are lawyers and there are number of farmers. We have a pilot—the Minister for Health is a very distinguished pilot and shearers cook, no less. We do not have to confess—it is not a comprehensive list—that we have any former trade union officials, but I gather there are plenty of those on the other side.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton, that is your final warning.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can say that we are committed as parties to see more women in parliament and more women in the executive, and that is something that we will always work towards. Do you know that last year 60,000 more women joined the workforce than men? In the December quarter the highest level of female participation in full-time work was recorded in our history. That is a very good thing.

I have to remind honourable members opposite that they are presently standing in the way of the government's very significant reforms on child care, which, if enacted, will have the effect of enabling more women, particularly those on lower incomes, to join the workforce and have access to the continuity of the workforce that is so important for every aspect of their lives—economic, social and right across the board. So we have targeted the highest rates of subsidies to those on the lowest incomes and more hours of subsidised care for the families who work the most hours. It is a very good reform. I am not sure where the honourable member for Fairfax stands on it but, if he can use his influence with the opposition to supported, that would be a very useful piece of work for him to undertake.