Candidate quotas is a system in which political parties are penalised for not running a certain percentage of women candidates for office. In 2012 legislation was introduced which would have required parties to field at least 30% women candidates at the next election and 40% at the election after that. If a party failed to meet these thresholds they would lose half of their public funding. Women currently make up 24.7% of the lower house and 38.2% in the upper house. Of 189 developed countries Australia currently ranks 46 out of 189. Proponents of quotas argue that they help promote gender diversity in government and are responsible for a 20% increase in the proportion of women in parliaments worldwide.
35% Yes |
65% No |
30% Yes |
51% No |
5% Yes, our government should reflect the diversity of our society |
8% No, the most qualified candidate should get the position regardless of gender |
7% No, diversity should be encouraged but not forced |
See how support for each position on “Woman Quotas” has changed over time for 197k New Zealand voters.
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See how importance of “Woman Quotas” has changed over time for 197k New Zealand voters.
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Unique answers from New Zealand users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.
@6HVTR2L3yrs3Y
No this further paints women as victims rather than the able bodied humans that we are. Tokenism is worse than not sitting at the table.
@8CFMZ5G4yrs4Y
They should only chose the best candidates for the job based on ability, but I would like only women candidates to be in charge of anything women's issues-related.
@9KTMNVG1mo1MO
Woman should run for political parties if they want, but you don't need a required amount of women candidates.
@9KL3CMB2mos2MO
Women shouldn't be required to always have an assigned spot, women should be able to fight for their spot in parliament.
@9KH9SK62mos2MO
Yes. The most qualified candidates should get the position, but sometimes women do not get chosen simply for being a woman. I believe the same should be done for men, as well. equal rights.
@9KH9MXY2mos2MO
diversity should be strongly encouraged but not forced, that'll just make people resent it more, but parties should run at least one women candidate. At the end of the day though whoever is most qualified deserves it.
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