#WomeninPolitics session about to kick off at # #SWF with @Indigocathy, @annabelcrabb @clareawright @MehreenFaruqi and @KateEllis22

@MehreenFaruqi says the intersection in Parliament between race and mysoginistic behaviour is much, much worse for women of colour
@KateEllis22 'I don't want women to burn the place down I want them to take it over'

@Indigocathy 'being an older, wiser country woman was a competitive advantage.'
'There's a significant thing happening in #AusPol at the moment. Watch & listen to female independents:
@helenhainesindi on integrity
@JacquiLambie on veterans
@zalisteggall on climate

@annabelcrabb on the legacy of the first female MP, Enid Lyons 'new broom' approach is it created the expectation that women will 'be nicer' in politics. That's a problem. As Carmen Lawrence and @cheryl_kernot found out.
The rise of independent #WomeninPolitics is a party failure

@clareawright asks 'do we need more women lawyers from private schools to be our MPs?'
@MehreenFaruqi responds 'I have never felt so sidelined and marginalised as in parliament' 'Parliament can be a very lonely place for a brown Muslim woman' 'We need a diversity of women'!

@KateEllis22 says it's time to shed a light on the toxic cycle of the Canberra media/press gallery rewarding those who spread rumours about MPs to advance their own political careers.

@annabelcrabb talks about the significant power in 'gossip' and this is from the male view, as the default. Eg lots of blokes didn't think @Milliganreports #4Corners wasn't even a story. Until the women journos reset what we understood matters.

@Indigocathy at #sydneywritersfestival
To be a
#WomeninPolitics
Flex the courage muscle
Turn up
Speak up
Step up

@clareawright asks the #WomeninPolitics panel at #sydneywritersfestival what is one structural change that would advance equality in politics?
1) @KateEllis22 - quotas work for structural reform
2) @MehreenFaruqi - we need more affirmative action and remove the barriers for women

3) @annabelcrabb - the community is often one step ahead and is changing the discussion. The external pressure will be the change.
4) @Indigocathy encourage young women to do @WomenElectionOz workshops and support them to run at local, state and federal to #GetElected

@clareawright wraps up with the books
#CathyGoesToCanberra
#SexLiesAndQuestionTime
#TooMigrantTooMuslimTooLoud
& upcoming documentary by Annabel Crabb in July on women in politics.