Labor leadership contest: Bill Shorten wants quotas to boost number of gay politicians in Parliament

Updated 1 hour 58 minutes ago

Labor leadership candidate Bill Shorten wants to introduce quotas to boost the number of gay and lesbian politicians in Parliament.

Mr Shorten is continuing his pitch to the party membership, sending out a manifesto that calls for the introduction of quotas for politicians representing minority groups.

He says the party should consider quotas for Indigenous Australians and the lesbian, gay, bixsexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community.

Neil Fharaoh, the national convenor of Rainbow Labor, which represents the party's LGBTI members, says it is a step forward.

"The LGBTI community has been underrepresented, particularly in political seats, both at a state and federal level in Australia," he said.

"There's probably only 12 gay and lesbian identifying politicians across the country and probably not too much more in the history and its definitely underrepresentative.

"So we'd welcome any moves to increase the representation in politics."

Mr Shorten also wants to redouble the party's efforts to boost the number of female candiates to 40 per cent.

The leadership contest between Mr Shorten and his rival, Anthony Albanese, will be decided by a Caucus vote as well as a nationwide ballot of party members.

Party members have already been mailed out their ballot papers.

They will cast their vote, then the Caucus will meet for their vote on October 10, three days before the successful candidate is announced.

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 29^th, 2013 at 10:49am:




I predicted this will happen, ( but I cant find that post on the general board ) that this quota nonsense will stretch from woman to dark skinned people and gay people


This is the stupidity of the left, makes me angry and wanna scream to the ear of every left nutter that comes my way

This will get him offside with the country's biggest union, and as such, he'll lose votes.

Joe de Bruyn will be making a few calls tonight ("Joe de Bruyn is a Dutchman who hates dykes." - Gough Whitlam).

Watch out Bill.

longweekend58 wrote on Oct 9^th, 2013 at 5:40pm:



Agreed.  A complete joke.

However, public support for homosexuals can end your political career in the ALP as long as Joe de Bruyn is around.

Perhaps Bill thought it was safe, seeing as de Bruyn is retiring shortly.

However, he'll have another Joe to contend with next year.

Joe Bullock will be taking up his seat in the senate next year.

Joe is the (outgoing) secretary of the SDA (the country's biggest union) in WA.

He is also an ALP kingmaker.

And, like de Bruyn, he has no time for homosexuals.

There's one other very interesting thing about Joe Bullock: one of his very best, and closest friends is Tony Abbott.  They were training to be priests together.

Interesting times (and senate votes) ahead.

longweekend58 wrote on Oct 9^th, 2013 at 5:51pm:



I'm certainly not opposed to gay marriage.

However, I wouldn't join a march in support of it.

If they want to marry, fine.  I couldn't care less.  My life will not be affected in the slightest and there'll be a few more happy people around.

However, I am getting a little sick of hearing about it.

It's starting to become a pain in the arse (pun intended).

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 9^th, 2013 at 6:00pm:



Not opposed?

You'll be able to marry one of your bum chums. 

Bobby. wrote on Oct 9^th, 2013 at 6:15pm:



That's funny, coming from bobby the fruit bat.

skippy. wrote on Oct 9^th, 2013 at 6:16pm:


I agree with you Skippy.....Bill Shorten does not impress me in the least!!!