TASMANIA’S first female premier has called on the State Government to include a 50 per cent quota in a new strategy to get more women on to government boards.

Labor MP and former premier Lara Giddings

In line with its 365-day to-do list, the Liberals will ­tomorrow release a five-year Women on Boards strategy.

There are 126 boards and committees in the State Government, with female representation stuck at around 34 per cent.

Boards in the Department of Premier and Cabinet have the highest proportion of ­female representation at 56.7 per cent, with the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment ­having a low female representation of 21 per cent.

The State Government hasn’t ruled a quota in or out.

But Labor MP and former premier Lara Giddings said Victoria was leading the way after last month introducing a quota of 50 per cent female representation on boards and in the judiciary.

“That is a very bold and critical move forward, if people are going to take this issue seriously,” Ms Giddings said.

She said women were well represented on voluntary government boards, but under-represented on paid boards.

A scan of the paid board membership of Tasmanian Government Business Enterprises shows a low rate of ­female membership, while some men appear on multiple boards.

Ms Giddings said men found it easier to ­secure leadership roles.

“The men are there in the social networks already and they have a very easy progression into board positions,” she said. “There are many dedicated women here in Tasmania who are just overlooked or they are not participating in the process because they don’t see it as relevant to them.”

Minister for Women Jacquie Petrusma said the State Government was committed to increasing the number of women on boards, but would not be drawn on a quota.

“The representation of women on government boards in Tasmania is 34 per cent, or 4 per cent ­behind the national average,” she said.

“In 1999, it was 33 per cent, which shows that in 15 years first Labor and then Labor and the Greens failed to achieve any significant progress.”

This article was originally published on The Mercury 24th June. Read the original article here.