Libs push for more women in parliament
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 THE Tasmanian Liberals say their efforts to improve female representation are paying off after preselecting AmandaSue Markham to run in Clark — a decision that has women outnumbering men in the party’s federal election team.
Mrs Markham ran for Franklin in 2016 and received about 35 per cent of first preference votes.
She will battle incumbent independent MHR Andrew Wilkie for the inner-city Hobart seat of Clark.
Liberal Party state president Geoff Page said: “As a registered nurse working at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Amanda-Sue cares passionately about the health and wellbeing of her community and is committed to ensuring people in Clark have the very best in healthcare, education and infrastructure.
“The recently announced Hobart City deal will deliver massive benefits to the seat of Clark and if elected AmandaSue will work hard to ensure the benefits are maximised.”
“Clark has missed out for too long with Labor and more recently an independent member who could not deliver.”
During the 2016 federal election campaign Mrs Markham, a former staffer for Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma, drew criticism for promoting herself primarily as a nurse despite no longer being registered.
Mrs Markham has since reregistered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and has been working in the Tasmanian Health Service.
Labor is running public servant Ben McGregor in Clark.
The Liberals have previously preselected George Town mayor Bridget Archer in Bass and Brighton councillor Jessica Whelan in Lyons, along with senate candidates Claire Chandler and Tanya Denison, who are second and third on that ticket respectively.
Gavin Pearce is running for the party in Braddon and Dean Young will contest Franklin.
In a statement, the Tasmanian Liberals said the branch was delivering on its target of 50 per cent female representation by 2022 — “an achievement delivered without the need for quotas”.