As a politically engaged working woman planning on having kids of my own in the next few years, the news that Kate Ellis is planning to retire from politics at the next federal election hit me hard.
Because in Kate Ellis, I came closer than ever to having myself represented in parliament.
She is an intelligent, hard-working woman who is not afraid to take on the old boys club mentality and prove she is worthy of a seat at the table. She cares about policies that will shape the future of this country but also knows when to admit that her party is not perfect.
Entering the parliament at 26 (the youngest female politician ever elected at a federal level in Australia), she grew up in front of the nation; in front of a generation of women wondering if they could one day be up there at the top of our chosen fields like she was.
On that national stage, we saw Kate Ellis become a minister, get married, appear on Q&A countless times, become a mum, enact significant policy changes and fight for a better future.
We saw a woman transition from her 20s to her 30s.
And, alongside other ministers who broke the traditional white-over-50s-male-politician mould, we finally began to see an accurate picture of today's society looking back at us.
The problem is, though, because she did it all publicly she made it seem possible. But it's clearly not.
For the most part, the average federal politician will spend 20 weeks away from their home each year, with many weeknights and weekends on top of that reserved for public events. Often, they'll spend as many hours of their year in planes as they will on the ground.
Listen: Kate Ellis talks to Mamamia about the day in the life of a politician and a new mum. Post continues...
As anyone who has children or is thinking of having children knows, that life and the life of a child aren't going to mix — at least, not if you actually want to be present and attend the odd school assembly.
For the older generation of politicians who left the day-to-day raising of children to their wives, missing those things might not have been a big deal. But society is changing and dads want to be around for those moments just as much as mums do now. We know this because Joe Hockey frequently spoke about it at length.
Still, despite the frank and honest admissions of our politicians, federal parliament continues to change little and simply look on as good representatives who also happen to be mothers leave.
Natasha Stott-Despoja did it. Kate Ellis is doing it, and we'll surely see it again in the future unless something changes.
The truth is, we need people like Ellis there. Because after all, if politics isn't reflecting the society of which it governs, you have to wonder, what the bloody hell is it doing?
I wholeheartedly support and understand Ellis' decision. But I do wonder just how long we'll have to wait to see another talented woman in her 20s elected to parliament. More than anything, I wonder how disheartening it will be for other women out there to have it reiterated to them, once again, that being a working mother is still just as hard it as ever was.
Top Comments
I'm not sure what you expect the solution to be. The truth of the matter is that the people of Australia expect their political representatives to represent them and the place they gather is Canberra. You can't effectively work remotely, particularly if you end up being a Minister that has a department to deal with and not giving the job everything it requires is short-changing the people in your electorate.
There are simply some jobs that are incompatible with having a young family if you don't want to be away from home, male or female. Any attempts to make it easier for individuals to not have to go to Canberra limits their ability to effectively represent the people that voted for them and the Australian public has to come first.
Being a working mother (and any mother for that matter) is hard work. Having a job that requires constant travel is another juggle on top of everything else. I travel one week out of 4 and a few extra trips per year on top of that. I've managed this for 8 years with two young girls and it has never gotten any easier. Children are only little for such a short period of time, I can totally understand her desicion.