Elder Electorate

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (16:02): Further supplementary: does the minister agree that this sort of gutter politics is exactly the stuff that stops women from wanting to stand as elected representatives?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:02): I will stand by our numbers in this parliament. We have much higher figures. This government, this party, outdoes the Liberal Party on every front in terms of the representation of women. We outnumber them in this place—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway, I do not think it is appropriate to be calling 'racist' across the chamber to the minister, who is trying to give an answer. You are assuming that the minister is racist. That will be clearly rejected, so let's keep it civil. The minister is giving an answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: As I said, I stand by our numbers, Mr President. We have outdone the Liberal Party on every front. Federally, we see an Abbott government that has one woman in its cabinet—one woman. It is disgraceful. We have outnumbered them on every front. Our track record is behind us and we have a target to continue to try to improve, unlike those opposite.