The Palaszczuk government may lead the nation on gender parity when it comes to its Cabinet, but an audit of staffers within the ministerial offices show there is still work to be done.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has proudly touted her Cabinet's progressiveness, with a female leader and deputy leader and eight of the 14 ministerial positions held by women.
Ms Palaszczuk, a firm believer in quotas, also announced plans to increase the number of women on state government boards, setting a target that would see 50 per cent of all board positions held by women by 2020 and has encouraged private companies to address their own gender imbalances.
But a review of the number of women holding senior positions within the Palaszczuk government's ministerial offices by Fairfax Media, shows men are still well in front, with women holding just 37.5 per cent of the top management positions, 46 per cent of media advisor roles and 47 per cent of policy advisor positions.
Offices with male ministers tended to have more men in senior positions than women, with Curtis Pitt's office reporting just 2 women in the top positions, in an office with 13 roles.
Men in senior roles also outnumber women in senior roles in the Premier's own office. While four women hold A07 or A08 roles, considered within the public service to be the pathway to senior leadership roles, they are outnumbered by the six men who hold the same level position. Six women in Ms Palaszczuk's office lay claim to senior executive service officer or senior officer roles, while 10 men hold the same position.
Of Ms Palaszczuk's seven-strong media team just one is a woman, while 10 of Ms Palaszczuk's 15 policy advisors are men.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt, Health Minister Cameron Dick, Racing Minister Bill Byrne, Environment Minister Steven Miles and Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch have no women in senior executive or senior officer positions, while Mr Byrne's policy team is also missing women.
Disability Services Minister Coralee O'Rourke, Energy Minister Mark Bailey, Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller and Women's Minister Shannon Fentiman claim no men in SO or SES positions.
The recently released Queensland Women report, released by Ms Fentiman, showed women made up two-thirds or 65.7 per cent of the state's public service, but held just one third or 33.1 per cent of senior executive service and above roles, despite holding the majority (54.3 per cent and 61.4 per cent) of A07 and A08 'in-line for management' positions, figures that have remained relatively unchanged.
Ms Fentiman focussed on the positives within the ministerial offices.
"There is almost a 50-50 split when it comes to the number of women and men serving as chief-of-staff in the Palaszczuk Government," she said.
"We have always and will always encourage women to apply for positions in ministerial offices and I actively encourage women to apply for positions, including senior roles.
"Having a majority of women in Cabinet, led by a female premier and six women Directors-General, up from one, and a dedicated Minister for Women sends a strong message to women that their skills and expertise are welcome and valued in the Palaszczuk Government.
"My own office has a majority female staff with part-time and flexible working arrangements to support team members with family or study commitments."
The government has begun consulting for its women's strategy, due to be handed down next year.
