On Tuesday, the Victorian MP from the Animal Justice Party called out the Australian media outlet for editing an image that enlarged her breasts and made her outfit more revealing.

Nine News director Hugh Nailon claimed there was no staff member involved in editing the image and it was artificial intelligence (AI) that altered the picture whilst they were re-sizing the photo.

However, as reported by Guardian Australia, Adobe, creator of Photoshop, has confirmed the incident could not have occurred without “human intervention”.

“Any changes to this image would have required human intervention and approval,” the statement read.

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AI-edited images and deepfakes

AI-edited media content, such as images and videos, disproportionately targets and affects women, particularly high-profile women. This week alone, Georgie Purcell is not the first woman to have an image of herself altered in a sexist way.

Over the weekend, sexually explicit deepfake images of Taylor Swift were circulated on the social media platform X. Formerly known as Twitter, X Corp. responded to the incident on Sunday night by removing the images and the account that first published the deepfakes, as well as temporarily blocking users’ ability to search “Taylor Swift” on the platform.

According to a report from The New York Times, one of the several images that were in circulation was viewed 47 million times before the deepfake, along with the account that published it, was removed from X.

On Wednesday morning, Georgie Purcell spoke on ABC’s RN Breakfast about the rise in AI technologies targeting women and girls.

“This has happened to me this week, it also actually happened to Taylor Swift this week with deep fake [images] using AI, happening to her all over Twitter on a much larger scale,” Purcell said.

“I think we need to seriously consider that our laws are probably not keeping pace with emerging technologies like AI and the risks they pose not just women in public life, but everyday women as well.

“I’ve heard stories from young women who have had just enough photos on their Instagram profiles for them to be taken and altered to appear naked without their consent. and it’s deeply deeply concerning.”

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Earlier this month, the government released its interim response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia consultation, outlining its short-term action plan for the growing technology.

Although the interim response paper mentions general “bias and discriminatory outputs” that currently exist in AI, there is no specific mention of women or considering AI with a gender lens.

‘No way to represent a woman.’

On Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters there’s still “a long way to go” in the representation of women in the media, including in social media, after Purcell called out Nine News’ distorted image.

“That’s no way to represent any woman, let alone a woman who holds a position in public office, represents a community and is in the public discourse every single day,” Allan told reporters.

“It’s another reminder that everyone who has the opportunity to be part of the public debate to consider how men and women, but in this instance particularly women, are represented.”

In 2022, Raise Our Voice Australia released a report on the impact of the media on young women and gender diverse people’s aspirations to enter politics.

In that report, 87 per cent of respondents felt that representation of women in politics by the media was mostly negative.

Nearly half (47 per cent) were less likely to pursue a career in politics given the events of the last 12 months, which at the time of the report’s release, included the allegations of Bruce Lehrmann raping Brittany Higgins in parliament house, the allegations against former Attorney-General Christian Porter, the ABC’s program Ms Represented and much more.

The Victorian Premier said the incident involving Georgie Purcell sends another discouraging message to young women wanting to enter politics, something that needs urgent attention.

“We know it can, young women tell us that themselves and that’s why again, it’s important to both call it out, which I think is what’s happening here this morning,” Allan said.

“It’s important to call it out, to identify, to do better and to understand that we have come a long way, but we’ve still got a way to go.”

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Following a nearly five-year engagement, the wedding had been a long time coming as the couple had originally planned to marry in 2022 but postponed it due to the country’s Covid restrictions at the time.  

“13.01.24 Worth the wait. ”, Ardern wrote on Instagram, next to a stunning wedding photo of herself and Gayford at Craggy Range vineyard. 

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Ardern wore a fitted ivory sleeveless, cowl-neck halter gown with a high neckline and low back by New Zealand fashion designer, Juliette Hogan – who is reportedly a close friend of Ardern. Her shoes were from Mount Maunganui designer Chaos and Harmony, the New Zealand Herald reports. 

The couple’s daughter, Neve, walked down the aisle with her father, wearing a dress made from Ardern’s mother’s wedding dress. 

Details of the event were kept private, but it’s believed only family and close friends, as well as a handful of Ardern’s former political colleagues were invited. Among them were Ardern’s successor and former prime minister Chris Hipkins. 

During her emotional remarks to reports when she resigned as prime minister in January 2023, she had said, “To Clarke, let’s finally get married”. 

Ardern’s resignation shocked many as she stepped down after five-and-a-half years as prime minister, citing burnout by saying she did not have “enough in the tank”. 

“It’s about knowing when you’ve got what it takes and what is needed to lead, but also have the courage to know when you don’t,” she said.

During her time as PM, her leadership style earned international recognition for navigating the country through a number of crises, including the Covid-pandemic, a horrific mass shooting in Christchurch and the White Island volcano eruption.

One year since departing politics

After stepping down from Prime Minister, a job she called ‘the greatest role of my life’, Ardern has been continuing her advocacy work and enjoying more family time. 

In April 2023, she was appointed a trustee of the Prince of Wales’ environment award, the Earthshot Prize, which was created by Prince William to fund projects that aim to save the planet.

Ardern said since Earthshot’s creation she had believed in the prize’s “power to encourage and spread not only the innovation we desperately need, but also optimism”.

Since resigning as PM, she’s also temporarily joined Harvard University after being appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. And she’s taken an unpaid role in combating online extremism. 

In June 2023, Ardern was made a Dame Grand Companion for her leadership through a mass shooting and pandemic. This title is one of NZ’s highest honours. 

That same month, Ardern also announced she’d be writing a book on being ‘your own kind of leader’. There’s much anticipation for the book as she’s promised to expand on her unique style of leadership. 

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Since departing parliament, Ardern has kept a low profile on political matters but has shared a bit of her life on social media, noting her precious time spent with family. 

In an adorable birthday post on Instagram last July, she wrote: “Can’t remember the last time I had a birthday that was quite as normal as this one. Tea and toast in bed, work, and dinner with my loves. Feeling very lucky today…and just a little older. ”

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While not the first US city to elect an all-female council, the news has made international headlines as St. Paul is believed to be the biggest city to reach such a milestone, with a population of about 300,000.

“This new class of leaders sends a clear message from St. Paul voters, I believe, to the whole world,” said St. Paul’s City Council President Mitra Jalali ahead of the swearing in ceremony. 

“We trust the leadership of these women. We believe in their personal and professional experiences and vision. Philanthropic and policy leaders, executive directors of nonprofits, an engineer… wow,” she said to a cheering crowd. 

While the council’s historic female representation is being widely applauded, Jalali responded to critics in her speech with grace and wit, saying, “If you read my Twitter replies lately, the responses sure are something. They’re fighting for their lives in there.”

“Let’s just say, a whole lot of people who were comfortable with majority male, majority white institutions for the nearly 107 years of city history are suddenly sharply concerned about representation,” she said to even more cheers from the crowd.

“My thoughts and prayers are with them in this challenging time.”

Who are the members of this all-female council?

All seven women are under 40 years old, and six out of the seven are women of color. First-term Council Members include Anika Bowie, Saura Jost, Hwa Jeong Kim and Cheniqua Johnson, while incumbents include Jalali, Rebecca Noecker and Nelsie Yang.

All of them will serve four-year terms, and their election victories brought across-the-baord victory for progressive Democrats in St. Paul.

“Thank you for being change-makers. Thank you for being the road-pavers. Thank you for being the firsts,” said Lt. Gov, Peggy Flanagan in an address at the swearing-in ceremony. “By sitting in these chairs today, you are inspiring more girls than you can ever imagine.”

Since the new council members started moving into their offices last week, Jalali joked that the City Hall “has felt a bit like the Barbie movie.”

Members held their first city council meeting Wednesday, with Jeong Kim, the council’s vice president and Jalali saying their top priorities include a comprehensive housing policy, renter protections, climate action, public safety interventions that use police officers less and mental health responders more, and economic development. 

The most senior member of the council, Noecker, gave closing remarks at the ceremony and urged the group to “really change things” with this momentous opportunity.

“We have the chance to show– through our actions, not just our words– what we all believe,” she said. “That government can be a force for good in people’s lives”. 

In Minnesota, women made up 35 per cent of the municipal office holders in cities with over 10,000 people, tying with Michigan for 16th place among the 50 states, according to data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. 

Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the center, told AP News that left-leaning and Democratic communities tend to have more women elected officials because Democratic women outnumber Republican women.

St. Paul’s city council is a nonpartisan office, but all seven members are Democrats. The city is also considered to be strongly Democratic, so Sindzak said she’s not surprised “that a city like this achieved this milestone first”. 

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According to a report from The Guardian, Galcerán has long held political ambitions. She joined the conservative People’s Party when she was 18 years old, and worked her way up the ranks of the party. 

In May 2023, she was added to a list of candidates for the PP ahead of Valencias regional elections. Shortly after, she obtained a seat in the regional parliament. Galcerán was sworn into her position as a regional parliamentarian in September 2023.

Galcerán’s success in politics and her position as the only person with Down syndrome in a Spanish parliament is a significant moment for representation of people with Down syndrome within Spain, Europe and globally. It is also thought that Galcerán is the first person with Down syndrome to be a member of regional or national parliament in Europe.

“Society is starting to see that people with Down’s syndrome have a lot to contribute. But it’s a very long road,” she told The Guardian.

Galcerán has spent more than two decades working as a civil servant, with a focus on policy relating to improving inclusion for those with intellectual disabilities. She has also worked at Asindown, an organisation supporting children with Down syndrome. 

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Galcerán’s role as a parliamentarian follows the efforts of Ángela Bachiller, a woman with Down syndrome who became Spain’s first city councillor in Valladolid in 2013. Bachiller has been a trailblazer in local politics. 

According to Down Syndrome Australia, Down syndrome is the most common genetic disability. There are approximately 13,000 people in Australia who have Down syndrome and the birth rate for Down syndrome is one in every 1,100 births.

The post Mar Galcerán is Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down syndrome appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Donna Faragher MLC, the only current female member of the Legislative Council from the Liberal party, announced she would not enter the bid for her Upper House seat as the member for East Metropolitan Region in Perth in WA’s 2025 election.

“It is an honour and privilege to serve as a member of parliament and to represent the East Metropolitan community in the Legislative Council, a region where I have lived all my life,” Faragher told the AAP.

Her resignation will mark 20 years serving in WA state politics, the longest a female member has served in either house in the state.

Faragher has had a trailblazing career for women in politics in WA. When she was elected in 2005, she became the youngest woman from the Liberal party to enter the WA parliament, and the second youngest overall. Faragher was 29 years old.

Faragher quickly joined the shadow cabinet ministry and, when Colin Barnett’s Liberal government won the 2008 election, she became the youngest woman in WA to hold a cabinet ministerial office. At 33, she served as the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Youth.

Faragher continued working for the Liberal party after resigning from the ministry in 2010, when she had her first child. After a six-year stint as a parliamentary secretary to the premier, she re-entered the ministry as Minister for Planning and Minister for Disability Services in 2016.

In her inaugural speech in 2005, Faragher acknowledged her youth, but showed how she could use it to her advantage in what would become a 20-year career in parliament.

“By standing here today, I acknowledge that I am a relatively young member; indeed, the youngest Liberal woman to have stood in either house of this state Parliament,” she said. 

“Therefore, there are many things that I have not yet experienced, but I feel that through my own experiences to date and those of my peers in their 20s, 30s and 40s, I can positively represent the issues, aspirations and challenges facing these Australians.”

Later in her speech, she acknowledged that it was a Liberal government in Western Australia that was the first in the country to promote a woman as a Minister.

“Although I do not suggest that we should ever rest on our successes, Liberals do have a proud history, and I believe our achievements should never be forgotten or rewritten to suit other people’s ends,” she said in her speech.

Gender make-up in parliament

Currently, there are seven members from the Liberal party holding seats in WA’s Upper House, the Legislative Council. Six of those seats are held by men, while the seventh is held by the sole Liberal woman, Faragher – for the next year at least.

In the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly, just three Liberal members hold seats – two women and one man.

The Legislative Assembly is gender-balanced, with 29 male members and 29 female members sitting in parliament.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Council consists of 21 male and just 14 female MLCs. WA’s next election will be held in March 2025.

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These women will be agenda setters, thanks to their leadership positions, their talent and their sheer tenacity. 

We’ve selected these women according to our news coverage over the past 12 months or so and following editorial meetings and research regarding what we can expect from 2024. 

They are, of course, just a sample of the women who will be establishing new agendas and new paths forward. And, just like in 2023, we know there will be women and new names that will emerge throughout the year. Also, just like in 2023 and every year before it, we are also well aware of all the women who lead and establish agendas in their own essential spheres of influence, leadership that doesn’t make the headlines but is just as important regardless. 

We have chosen the below categories to focus on, based on the key areas we cover on Women’s Agenda.

Politics

Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs

As a humanitarian crisis in Gaza threatens widespread war in the Middle East, all eyes will be on Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, who will drive Australia’’s foreign policy response to the unfolding situation.

Jacinta Allen, Premier of Victoria

Jacinta Allen has not yet served six months as the Premier of Victoria, the second woman to lead in the state’s history. She will play a key role in meeting the goals and objectives set out in Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027.

Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women

The NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison was behind the establishment of the NSW Women’s Advisory Council, which met for the first time in December 2023. She, along with the twelve community leaders who sit on the council, will ultimately shape the political agenda for women in NSW.

Zoe Daniel MP, Independent Member for Goldstein

Zoe Daniel is one of the “teal independents” who sits on the crossbench in the House of Representatives. The Member for Goldstein, along with other independent MPs, has been very vocal on climate action, integrity in polics, women’s safety economic equality and health, as well as sexual violence on university campuses. She shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.

Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Sussan Ley is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Women. Although last year she came under fire for her views on strip clubs, she ended the parliamentary year by launching a domestic violence awareness drive. As domestic violence took the lives of 63 women in 2023, Ley will be vital in putting pressure on the government from the Opposition to turn these statistics around.

Tech

Luli Adeyemo, Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation

The tech industry is evolving ever so rapidly, and we need diversity in the sector now more than ever. As Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation and the winner of the 2023 Women’’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Tech award, Luli Adeyemo is on a mission to do just that.

Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva

Melanie Perkins is leading the charge in Australia’s tech industry, as the co-founder of Canva topped the list of the Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List for the third year in a row.

Ashi Bhat, founder of the INSIDER app

Ashi Bhat describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. Over a year ago, the TEDx speaker and marketing leader founded INSIDER, an app that revolutionises brand loyality programs using blockchain technology.

Shirley Gwynn, CEO of TALK5

Shirley Gwynn was appointed as CEO of TALK5, Australia’s first AI-powered, voice enabled Work Health and Safety (WHS) software platform, at the end of last year. Heading into 2024, Gwynn will play a key role in breaking down cultural, literacy and language barriers to bridge the gap between safety protocols and frontline workers.

Prof. Svetha Venkatesh, co-director, A2I2, Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University

As the leading Australian computer scientist, Professor Svetha Venkatesh has already made headway in activity and event recognition in multimedia data. Her work, which has been recognised internationally, will be vital in Australia’s tech industry coming into 2024

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa, chief investigator, Gender Legislative Index

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa is the woman behind the Gender Legislative Index, the first comprehensive IT-based tool to improve legislation for women in Australia. Her passion and expertise in women’s rights and gender equality is much needed in Australia’’s tech scene.

Business

Michele Stanfield, founder of Cauldron

Climate change, overpopulation and other environmental issues has elicited food insecurity in many parts of the world. Michele Stansfield is set to change that with her biochemistry start-up Cauldron, a fermentation business creating nutritious and sustainable compounds for new and innovative plant-based foods.

Michelle Simmons, founder of Silicon Quantum Computing

Michelle Simmons, the 2018 Australian of the Year and Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, is still at the forefront of Australia’s quantum computing discipline. Now, her new startup Silicon Quantum Computing has the potential to advance the field even further.

Vandana Chaudhry, founder of Andisor

Vandana Chaudry has been an executive at Deliveroo, Crocs and now has founded her very own business, Andisor. The e-commerce platform seamlessly connects retailers and wholesalers on an easy-to-use digital platform, revolutionising the sector.

Mundanara Bayles, founder of BlakCast

At the end of 2023, Australia’s first ever network of podcasts highlighting stories of First Nations Peoples and people of colour launched. The woman behind BlakCast, Mundanara Bayles, has certainly given opportunities for First Nations Peoples to reclaim their narratives and strengthen cultural identity, starting in 2024 and beyond.

Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of Macquarie Group

The managing director and CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake ranked number nine in Fortune’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023. This impressive accolade makes her one woman to watch in the business world – both in Australia and worldwide.

Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas

Vanessa Hudson stepped up as CEO of Qantas last year in what was certainly the ultimate “glass cliff” situation. After a horror year for the aviation company, Hudson will determine how Qantas will bounce back.

Lacey Webb, founder of Resource Hub

Lacey Webb’s female-led small business Resource Hub has revolutionised waste management for businesses in Australia. As the winner of the 2023 Women’s Agenda Small Business Leader of the Year award, she is certainly one to watch, setting the agenda in the Waste and Resource Recovery sector.

Suzie Betts, founder of Boob Armour

Women’s sport had its biggest year yet in 2023 – and interest is only getting stronger. Suzie Betts’ revolutionary product Boob Armour will help sport for women become safer and even more accessible. Betts was the 2023 Women’s Agenda Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.

Tara Croker, founder of Yaala Sparkling

Tara Croker is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the founder of Yaala Sparkling, non-alcoholic beverages that honour the true flavours her Ancestors have enjoyed for generations. In 2023, Croker, a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, received investment from Shark Tank’s Dr Catriona Wallace, which will surely boost the success of what is already a successful business in 2024.

Health

Sam Mostyn, Chair of Beyond Blue

Accomplished business leader and advocate Sam Mostyn is set to play a pivotal role in the mental health space this year, as she settles into her new role as Chair of Beyond Blue. Mostyn has replaced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the role, and says she is focused on increasing digital and other accessible support for mental health and wellbeing. She is also the Chair of the government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.

Samantha Payne, founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network

As the founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network, Samantha Payne is a leader in the national conversation on miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, Payne will continue to push for policy reform to improve the lives of women and families going through the devastation of pregnancy loss.

Professor Gita Mishra, NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Queensland

Professor Gita Mishra first came onto our radar last year when she was a senior author in a University of Queensland study that found women with endometriosis are likely to experience high rates of other health conditions. The longitudinal research was the first of its kind, and will help support the improvement of women’s quality of life. We expect Professor Mishra to be a central figure in endometriosis research this year.

Dr Danielle Wilhour, neurologist, UCHealth Neurosciences Center

As a board-certified neurologist who specialises in headache medicine, Dr Danielle Wilhour, has written about gender differences in migraines – more than three times as many women experience migraines – and the importance of bridging the gender gap in migraine research to empower women and advance our understanding of the condition.

Associate Professor Anna Boltong, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia

Associate Professor Anna Boltong was appointed CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia towards the end of last year, and will continue to play an influential role in the health sector this year as she looks to develop the organisation’s strategic plan. Ovarian Cancer Australia is focused on bridging gaps to ensure everyone has equal access to timely and comprehensive support for ovarian cancer.

Sport

Ariarne Titmus, Australian Olympic swimmer

One of Australia’s hottest prospects at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ariarne Titmus is one of the key athletes to keep an eye on this year. She excelled at the Swimming World Championships last year and is expected to do the same in Paris.

Kelsey Lee Barber, Australian Olympic athlete: javelin

Kelsey Lee Barber is the reigning world champion in javelin and will be one of the key Australian athletes to know at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Jade Melbourne, WNBL player for University of Canberra Capitals

WNBL and UCCapitals player Jade Melbourne has been named in the Australian Opals extended squad ahead of the Olympic Qualifying tournament in February, where the Opals will look to secure their spot for the Paris Olympics. At just 21 years old, she was the youngest player in the WNBA in the US last year.

Zarlie Goldsworthy, AFLW player for GWS Giants

GWS GIANTS’ Zarlie Golsworthy was named the Rising Star at the 2023 AFLW awards, and at just 19 years old, also made her maiden appearance on the All-Australian side for the AFLW. As we head into the next season, she is one to keep watching.

Cortnee Vine, Australian soccer player for Sydney F.C. and the Matildas

Matildas up-and-comer Cortnee Vine was one of the most exciting players to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 – memorably scoring a winning penalty against France – and is a player to watch at the upcoming Olympics as the Matildas look to secure a medal.

Leadership

Katherine Berney, Director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance

Katherine Bearney is a central figure in the sexual, domestic and family violence sector, and uses her platform to drive change to create better outcomes for women across Australia. She was recognised last year as Women’s Agenda’s Emerging Leader in the NFP sector.

Prabha Nandagopal, founder of Elevating Consulting Partners

Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal, the founder of Elevating Consulting Partners, has worked with employees across Australia who have faced sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment and racism. She recently spoke to Women’s Agenda about the importance of employers implementing positive duty properly and has a background as the Director of Legal for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces review in 2021.

Charmaine Hunzwi, President of Incubate Foundation

Charmaine Hunzwi is the President of Incubate Foundation, an organisation supporting young African Asutralians to reach their fullest potential; and Founder of Safe Space Media which creates content that challenges the narratives of under-represented communities. She was named an Agenda Setter finalist at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is a changemaker to watch this year.

Angelique Wan, co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs

Co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs, Angelique Wan was named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is continuing her work to help young people develop a better understanding of consent through education.

Arts/Culture

Shankari Chandran, author, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

In 2023, Shankari Chandran won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. This year will see her fourth novel, Safe Haven, published, a story highlighting the plight of refugees seeking asylum in Australia. Her book no doubt will help change the narrative around asylum seekers in this country.

Bri Lee, author, The Work

The arts industry continues to battle with the struggles of funding, cost of living and more. Bri Lee, author of Who Gets to be Smart and award-winning Egshell Skull, explores these struggles plus so much more in her new book The Work, which will be published this year.

Gracie Otto, director, Ladies in Black

Ladies in Black is a television drama expected to hit screens this year. The female-led production team created the series to explore the lives of women in Australia in the late 1950s, where although much has changed, some challenges are still relatable even today. The show was directed by Gracie Otto.

Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, writers, Lesbian Space Princess

Lesbian Space Princess is an animated television series, written by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese. The show will champion greater representation for LGBTQIA+ identities, plus so much more, for 2024.

Cathy Randall, director, Red Rock Run

Cathy Randall is well-known for directing Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueberg (2008) starring Toni Collette. This year, she will be directing the feature film Red Rock Run, following the story of a young girl pursuing to run a gruelling 120km race.

The post Who will define 2024? These are our top picks for women to watch appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Elisabeth Borne resigned earlier this week amid a cabinet reshuffle. In her resignation letter, Borne suggested she resigned at Macron’s request, citing the president’s “will to appoint a new prime minister”. 

At 34 years old, Attal will become France’s youngest ever and first openly gay prime minister. He’s known as a close ally to Macron and became a household name during the COVID pandemic for his role as a government spokesman. Most recently, he has served as education minister.

Under the French political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and accountable to the parliament. 

Recent opinion polls put Attal as one of the country’s most popular politicians, and his appointment by Macron signals a desire by the president to improve his centrist party’s chances of a win in the European parliamentary elections in June. 

Last year, Macron’s party made unpopular pension and immigration reforms aimed at strengthening the government’s ability to deport some foreigners. The reforms were only able to pass after his centrist alliance made a deal with the conservative Republicans, which many people saw as a shift to the right side of politics. 

At the time of these policy moves, Borne, 62, had been in charge of implementing domestic policy and coordinating the government’s team of ministers. She was appointed in May 2022, following Macron’s re-election for a second term. 

At the beginning of the summer, riots erupted across France after a deadly police shooting of a teenager of North African descent. Borne and Macron were also faced with mass protests against unpopular pension changes. 

The various controversial policy moves raised questions from observers over the ability of Borne’s government to pass future major bills.

Speaking on the state of the country as he steps into the role of PM, Attal said: “I’m well aware of the context in which I take on this job.”

“Too many people in France doubt our country, doubt themselves or our future.”

As education minister, Attal took a hard stance on authority and secularism by defending a ban on girls in state schools from wearing abayas and experimenting with introducing school uniforms. 

“I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools,” Attal told French television at the time. “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them.”

Attal will appoint a new government in the coming days and has said he’ll pursue what he described as Macron’s pro-business drive to transform the French economy, while focusing on young people and education. 

Referred to by some as a “baby Macron”, Attal labeled his appointment by Macron was a bold move. “The youngest president in [French] history is appointing the youngest prime minister in [French] history. I want to see it as a symbol of audacity,” he said.

Critics of Attal’s appointment are sceptical that it will bring any change, with Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure telling France Inter Radio, “Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care, it will just be the same policies.”

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It is, therefore, disheartening to learn that preselection of women for the Liberal Party, especially to contest safe or even winnable seats, is going backwards. It serves as a timely reminder that achieving gender equality in politics is never a ‘done deal’ and a single election cycle can undo hard-won gains. Should this preselection trend continue, 2024 will not be a watershed moment, but rather a backslide.

So, what’s really going on? And why is there a propensity to continue preselecting the same (overwhelmingly male) faces? The problem can be summed up in one word: MERIT.

Let’s be clear: in Australian political circles, MERIT is anything but meritorious. The term has previously been weaponised as a ‘dog whistle’ opposition whenever gender quotas aimed at increasing political diversity are raised.

For this reason, many women, on both sides of politics, have come to associate MERIT with a tongue-in-check acronym: Men Elected Regardless of Intellect or Talent. While it is not my desire to stir up a ‘battle of the sexes’ type debate, the reality is thus: in political circles, being assessed as meritorious is often shorthand for: male enough, straight enough, able-bodied enough, white enough and with a desire to maintain the status quo. In short, MERIT in politics is just that…political.

For this reason, Women for Election put MERIT in the bin years ago. Our laser focus is on finding women who exhibit CALIBRE, a more contemporary and meaningful acronym, namely: Community Aimed Leadership in Brave Representation of Everyone.

Across Australia, women exhibit CALIBRE every day in their communities; in paid positions but most frequently in volunteer positions. This lived experience ranges from chairing the regional business chamber, to being President of the school P&C, to forming a residents’ lobbying group to have local roads upgraded, and frankly outweighs someone who comes to politics via working as a staffer or trade unionist. 

CALIBRE, by its very definition, is inclusive of women from politically under-represented communities. Whether our candidates are from an economically disadvantaged background, from the queer community, or from the First Nations community, everyone can see themselves fitting within the company of CALIBRE.

Research consistently shows that diverse groups of people lead to better, more inclusive policy outcomes. It makes sense: take, for instance the recently announced Parliamentary Inquiry into Issues Related to Menopause and Perimenopause. Would such an Inquiry have been launched without the advocacy of female parliamentarians? I think not.

But here’s the rub: there are a set number of seats at our political tables in Australia. As I’ve previously written, if we are serious about achieving gender equality in politics, we need to acknowledge it is a zero-sum game. When a man steps out of politics, a woman needs to be pre-selected in his place. Period. If there’s no women of CALIBRE in the pipeline, call Women for Election – we can help!

The reality is that in embracing CALIBRE, and the political and societal windfalls that come with it, more women and others from politically underrepresented backgrounds will be elevated (ie. preselected) into winnable seats. At the same time, others will need to take a step back and acknowledge that diversity and representation in our political chambers is more important than their perceived ‘birthright’.

And so, while Women for Election cracks on with our important work of inspiring and equipping women with the tools to run for political office in 2024 and beyond, my hope is that the Liberal Party voting members, amongst others, will pre-select candidates not based on MERIT but rather on CALIBRE. Our nation will be the better for it.

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In the lead up to the first caucuses and primaries that will determine the Republican presidential candidate, the 51-year-old former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor is grabbing voters’ attention as she makes a strong bid against Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner. 

While she’s still trailing the former president in the polls by 50 points, according to the Financial Review, recent polling data from RealClearPolitics show Haley as a stronger general-election candidate than Trump if she were to go up against current president Joe Biden in the 2024 election. 

She is rapidly gaining in the polls and drawing large campaign donations from billionaires, ahead of the Republican primary, which will occur in Iowa on January 15.

Other than Trump, Haley’s nearest rivals include Florida governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. 

Billionaire backings

In recent weeks, several high-profile donors have indicated they’ll back her over DeSantis, who is polling behind her. Billionaire Charles Koch’s network has raised millions in an effort to support Haley’s campaign– an endorsement that BBC news correspondent Sam Cabral says “has the potential to reshape the race”. 

On Friday, Home Depot co-founder and billionaire Ken Langone put his support behind Haley as well, saying Trump’s time has “come and gone”. 

At the Republican’s final debate last week, Haley’s recent surge in party support made her a prime target from the group, especially as Trump chose not to attend. 

DeSantis lead the attacks, saying “she will cave to the donors” who he claimed are making money in China and “are not going to let her be tough on China”. 

Ramaswamy also took a swing at Haley, accusing her of corruption. 

“Larry Fink, the king of the woke industrial complex, the ESG movement, the CEO of BlackRock, the most powerful company in the world, now supports Nikki Haley,” he said.

Responding to the attacks by laughing them off, Haley said, “I love all the attention fellas”, adding that they were mad because she was taking away their donor support.

“When it comes to these corporate people who want to suddenly support us we’ll take it, but I don’t ask them what their policies are. They asked me what my policies are. We opposed every single corporate bailout we possibly could,” she said. 

So, what is Nikki Haley’s background?

The daughter of Indian immigrants and raised in the Sikh faith, Haley grew up in rural South Carolina where she described enduring racism. In her video announcing her presidential bid, she referenced this past, saying it had an impact on her personal and political life.  

In 2011, Haley became the first woman and first Indian American to be elected governor of South Carolina. She then served as the ambassador to the United Nations from the US under President Trump. 

When she launched her presidential campaign in February 2023, Haley was the first major GOP challenger to Trump and only the fifth Republican woman to run for president this century.

What are her policies?

Haley has said in multiple debates that she is against abortion rights for women. She stands apart from the rest of her GOP competition, however, as she has called for a “national consensus” when it comes to a federal abortion ban. Haley has said she would sign a six-week abortion ban if that was what “the people decide”, with exceptions for rape and incest.

Despite being the daughter of immigrants, Haley’s stance against immigration is tough– although still more lenient than her GOP rivals. She has said she would assign thousands of immigration agents to carry out deportations and has called on the US to “close” the border” and defund “sanctuary cities”. 

When it comes to other issues, her stances are as follows: Haley blames big government spending for inflation, has said China is “the greatest threat to American security and prosperity”, believes helping Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression is in the US national interest, spoke out against red flag gun laws and has opposed efforts to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. 

Can she beat Trump?

Although she has worked under Trump as UN Ambassador and supported him in the past, Haley is distancing herself from him in her presidential campaign. 

“A president must have moral clarity”, she says in a campaign video, adding that Americans “have to leave behind the chaos and drama of the past”.

Political analysts believe Haley has a chance at the presidency since she can garner support from the independent and moderate voters– those people who don’t support Donal Trump and have mixed views of Joe Biden’s performance as president. 

She also has the potential to close the gender gap and class divide, according to Politico, where Trump has especially struggled to gain the majority votes of women and white voters with university degrees.  

As the runner-up to Trump– who faces 91 criminal charges– Haley would be next in line for the GOP nomination should he end up in jail and the Republican convention decides they don’t want to run someone who’s a convicted felon. 

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Annastacia Palaszczuk had already achieved both of these feats and much more when she announced on Sunday that she will officially leave office in the next week.

She goes after nine years as Premier of Queensland, following a short stint as Opposition leader following the 2012 Queensland state election that left Labor with just seven MPs. The fact that she could take a decimated party to victory within a few years of defeat is a remarkable achievement. That victory, in 2015, would see her become the first woman elected from the Opposition and the second female premier of Queensland. It also earned her the label of “accidental premier”.

In 2017, Palaszczuk led her party to victory again, becoming the first woman to be re-elected as premier. She won a third time in 2020, thanks to soaring popularity as Queenslanders appreciated her pandemic response, even where those in NSW and other states may have disagreed with the hardline border closures.

Palaszczuk also holds another record: she became the first state leader to appoint a majority female cabinet. And she will leave as one of few pandemic leaders still in power, with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr now the only state or territory leader who served through the pandemic remaining in office.

Some of Palaszczuk’s most notable policy achievements include the pandemic response, as well as her party legalising abortion under her leadership, and voluntary assisted dying.

And after three election wins, the Labor caucus of just seven that Palaszczuk started with has grown to 52.

Palaszczuk has had her fair share of controversy through her nine years in office, but arguably nothing like what other long-serving premiers and even short-term premiers have managed to rack up during their time.

Palaszczuk was emotional as she shared the news on Sunday at a press conference, declaring that “now is the time” to do something else.

She conceded also that she was considering retirement while she was “trying to have a holiday” in September with her partner in Italy — at a time when some commentators declared Palaszczuk was missing in action as the state was going through a difficult period.

But Palaszczuk said the final decision came last week.

“Finally, my mind was made up at the national cabinet last week when I saw so many new faces,” she said.

“Renewal is a good thing.”

She also used the press conference to highlight the mountain that she saw ahead of her when she initially became party leader following that shocking 2012 election result.

“I said that first election will be like climbing Mount Everest. I went on to climb that mountain twice more. I don’t need to do it again.”

Across various newspapers today, several political insiders and politicians are sharing that Palaszczuk quit before she was about to be pushed, and stepping down was not her decision. We’re also reminded of Labor’s dire standing in the polls in Queensland and of a predicted election wipeout in October 2024.

We’re reminded also that Palaszczuk returned from that holiday in September, declaring that she felt “refreshed” and energised and “absolutely determined to lead the party and the government to the next election. I just want to make that very clear to everybody,” she said at the time.

But leaders can change their minds. Leaders can and should also read the room, and take the opportunity to go when renewal could be the best step for those who remain. Following through with a change of heart is a far better outcome for everyone than clinging to power on account of words uttered months ago.

Palaszczuk says that she will have “no job come January”, but she will be out there promoting Queensland in some capacity.

“I have given it all and I have run a marathon.

“I’ve dedicated my whole life to community service. There’s no greater honour,” she said.

“Nine years, it feels like an eternity.”

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A beloved, wife, mother, daughter, sister and a Member for Dunkley, Murphy’s family shared on Instagram that she was at home surrounded by loved ones and “died the way she lived – with dignity and strength and a touch of sarcasm to boot.”

Murphy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, and after recovering, her cancer returned in 2019. Shortly after, she became the first woman elected to represent the Dunkley electorate.

In her maiden speech, Murphy quoted from children’s book character Pippi Longstocking, who responded to being told she couldn’t beat a circus strongman because ‘he’s the strongest man in the world’, by saying “Man, yes… but I’m the strongest girl in the world, remember that.”

Referencing this power move, Murphy’s loved one’s also wrote in her tribute that “We loved her deeply and are so, so proud of her achievements, her character and her courage. She was indeed the strongest girl of all.”

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A post shared by Peta Murphy MP (@petamurphylabordunkley)

Known for her commitment to social justice and her community, Murphy was in Parliament just last Tuesday  to support a national registry for metastatic cancer patients. 

“It was so true to Peta’s character that she channelled her personal battle with breast cancer into public policy, advocating always for others: for better treatment, more services and stronger support,” said an emotional Prime Minister Anthonly Albanese as he announced Murphy’s death.

In a press conference in Canberra on Monday, Albansese said his government is “broken hearted” over her passing.

“Peta Murphy was brave, she was courageous, and she was loved. Peta Murphy was the strongest of local members, the most inspiring of colleagues, and the very best kind of friend. To attend a community event with Peta was to bask in her glow … This will be a difficult period of grieving, but we will always carry her glow in our hearts.”

Prior to entering Parliament, Murphy was a senior public defender at Victorian Legal Aid and a barrister. She was married to her husband Rod Glover for 24 years.

As MP for Dunkley and following her cancer diagnosis, Murphy used her first speech in Parliament to say: “I am neither unique nor alone in the fight I am about to take on.”

Referencing her words, Albanese told reporters on Monday that, “In so many wonderful ways, Peta was unique. But as someone who inspired such affection and respect in the hearts of so many, she was never alone.”

Tributes have been pouring in for Murphy from all who knew her, describing the beautiful legacy she leaves behind. 

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The Minister fronted the National Press Club on Wednesday discussing the risks faced on social media platforms, dating apps and gambling advertisements in the “era of digital giants”, and how the Albanese Labor government plans to address the challenges.

“Within a complex network of networks, there is rarely a net solution to a challenge,” Minister Rowland said. 

“While the technology itself is complex, that pales in comparison to the interactions and collaborations enabled by it.”

In her Press Club address, Minister Rowland announced on behalf of the federal government that consultation for proposed legislation amendments to “strengthen Australia’s basic online safety expectations” will commence today. Submissions will be open until February 16, 2024.

Rowland also said the review of the Online Safety Act, as promised, has also been brought forward one year, expected to commence in early 2024. The Minister announced in the Press Club address that Delia Rickard, the former deputy chair of the ACC, will conduct the review.

These steps towards addressing online safety in Australia come after research from the University of Canberra reported 70 per cent of Australians are concerned about misinformation.

“Both misinformation and disinformation can cause serious harm, sow divisions within the community, undermine trust and threaten public health and safety,” Rowland said.

“In the era of digital giants, it’s more important than ever that Australia asserts its values and the community standards we expect online.”

Minister Rowland spoke about the responsibility digital platforms and the government alike have to protect people, particularly youth, online.

“There is a difference between a young person having a bad experience in the schoolyard and being subjected to a deluge around the clock abuse and harassment over social media,” she said.

“This is not to say that one is more benign than the other – just that it is critical we understand these differences so that we can be intentional about the appropriate regulatory settings that should apply.”

The safety of dating apps is also a major concern for the Minister.

“The dating apps are offering a hugely popular service. It’s now the most common way to meet someone in Australia,” she said. 

“But Australians need to be able to do so safely.”

Reflecting on her own media consumption habits as a young person – reading newspapers, listening to the radio and watching television – Minister Rowland said the “vectors” of communications have “not only expanded, but their ability to scale has increased”.

This is in part due to the emergence of generative AI, the Minister said.

“Indeed, the potential for the spread of AI generated messages information makes taking action even more pressing,” she said.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza

As the world watches the humanitarian crisis in Gaza unfold, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism online has increased drastically.

It has been a major concern for the government, as expressed by many MPs in the House of Representatives, including independent MP Dai Le.

Le cited reports from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which reported 221 anti-Semitic incidents in the last month, 42 of which occurred within just one week.

Likewise, the Islamophobia Register Australia reported 133 incidents, which Le noted is likely to be higher, since Islamophobia largely goes unreported.

“Australia does not condone this abhorrent upward trend of targeted violence against any communities in our diverse country,” Le said.

At the National Press Club address on Wednesday, Rowland was asked whether “religious exemptions” would be considered in the proposed amendments to online safety and misinformation legislation.

“We understand that there has been concern from a variety of faith organisations that their religious views should not be considered as part of this,” Rowland said. 

“We are working through that at the moment and we’ll have more to say in due course.”

Rowland said the government is planning to “work through precisely what those exemptions will be”.

“There have been calls for exemptions to be removed, including when it comes to authorised election material and also as it applies to media services as well,” she said.

“I’ve made it clear that those exemptions are in there for a reason. It’s because they are regulated elsewhere in different laws.”

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