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Gender, power and Labor politics

Environmental activist, Sydney University graduate and mother, Jenny McAllister, has recently been elected to the Labor Party Leadership Team, alongside Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Senior Trade Union leader Michael Williamson. Each member will assume the role of National President for a year, whilst the others act as Vice Presidents reports Laura Bannister in the South Sydney Herald of June 2009.

How did your early childhood and teenage years influence your later involvement in politics?

I grew up on the North coast at a time when there was a big community debate about the future of our local area - especially in relation to coastal development. My dad was passionate about preserving public access to open space - particularly on the beach front. I think that really shaped my sense that government has an important role to play in protecting the public interest. Equally, my mother was a passionate public school teacher. I've always known how important it is to ensure people are not left behind in education.

What drew you to the Labor Party?

I really wanted to be involved in politics, and at the time, Labor appeared the obvious choice. I was always going to be involved in progressive politics, and Labor seemed the main game then. It was a party in which you could achieve concrete change ... a party capable of forming government. It dominated the political sphere. It isn't that I didn’t sympathise with the agendas of various independent groups, and still do; but personally, I wanted to be part of something bigger where I could actually make the change, not just influence the party that did.

How did you come to gain the position on the panel?

I see my role [on the Presidential Panel] as an advocate for member activism and involvement. I was involved in starting the Labor Environment Activist Network - a group of party members committed to the environment, which is still going strong. I was also involved in getting ALP members organised and involved in the huge protests against the war in Iraq.

How does it make you feel to have such a prestigious role within the party?

It is incredibly exciting. The ALP is made up of so many amazing people, and I'm very lucky to be part of a terrific panel. Anna Bligh has always been a source of inspiration - she was entering the parliament around the time I became involved in the ALP in Queensland, and was very good to many young women, including myself. She has achieved so much to become the first woman to win election as Premier in Australia.

Speaking of women in politics, the political spectrum is still heavily male dominated. Is the gender issue a hard one?

Perhaps it once was, but there are a lot of women involved in senior roles in the Government, such as Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek ... who are doing a great job, as could be anticipated. The dilemma of choosing work or kids should not exist anymore; there shouldn’t be an either/or situation for ambitious women.

What do you hope to achieve when you take up the Presidential role in 2011?

The President primarily is responsible to the ALP membership. I'd like to work on ways to involve new and existing members in the issues they are passionate about. Many people are so excited by the election of the Rudd Government - and that presents a real opportunity to re-energise the party. For example, many people are very excited about the progress that’s been made on climate change, and they want to contribute to the next steps to reduce our carbon. The paid maternity leave scheme is also a big step forward and there's a real opportunity for our members to contribute as the Government develops its policies to address work-life balance, and the role of women in the workforce.

You have come to your position at a rather crucial time in terms of the world economy, with Kevin Rudd being criticised for what some perceive as lavish spending that will accumulate massive debt. What do you think about this? Are policy tools such as stimulus packages an ineffective short-term fix?

The Government has a very clear set of objectives. It is trying to create a budget that is structurally sound in the long term, with short-term consumer spending measures and medium-term infrastructure commitments that will have benefits to the economy for many years into the future. Ultimately, the onus is on those who criticise the Government to step up and explain what they'd do differently.

One economist, Thomas Friedman, argues that once a country like Australia embraces globalisation and neo-liberalism, the difference between major political parties becomes as trivial as a choice of Pepsi or Coke. In light of recent attempts by the NSW State Government to privatise electricity and public-private partnership ventures, is there some truth to this argument?

It is not inconsistent for [Labor] to say that we want to protect vulnerable people as well as maintain a strong economy. There is still a clear-cut difference between the Liberal Party and Labor, which has a strong sense of social welfare. The Howard Government was insensitive to groups on the fringe of society, such as aged pensioners and callous in its implementation of workplace reforms, which often affected the most helpless members of the workforce.

Why then do you think the NSW Government has received heavy critique in recent years?

I think it is natural for governments that have been in place for a long time to receive criticism. But I also think some of their achievements aren't being recognised. In terms of hospital and school infrastructure they've achieved a lot. I think the Government has heard the concerns about public transport, and are really working to overhaul it.

Finally, do you think that within a major party, politics necessitates compromises to personal ethics?

I believe that politicians who have a core set of beliefs are the most successful. Although I didn’t agree with most of his policies, John Howard clearly had a strong ethical foundation and Kevin Rudd also does. Compulsory voting asks politicians to engage with the issues of every person in the community. When I ran for candidacy at one stage, I found the process of door-knocking in particular to be a strangely intimate and very personal experience. The connection with those in the community keeps you grounded. Of course, within a major party you can’t get everything you want, you have to compromise at some points. But everyone is working toward the same major goals.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Caption: Jenny McAllister with sons Fynn and Ted

Source: South Sydney Herald June 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au