As always, issue-specific interest groups are pointing to the election results as evidence for popular endorsement of their favoured policies. Noting the wave of female “teal independents” now elected to office, Camilla Nelson, Associate Professor in Media at the University of Notre Dame, has been quick to say that this means “the things that really matter to women and their communities matter at the ballot box, too”. This might be perfectly true, so far as it goes. The more elusive question is what are “the things that matter to women”?

By Rachael Wong

The vicious demonisation of Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves is the latest attempt to silence women who speak out about the impact of harmful gender policies and practices on women’s sex-based rights and the welfare of children.

The state netball championships held in Brisbane last week attracted attention and controversy for all the wrong reasons. This was because the grand final was won by the Queensland Suns U17s team, an all boys’ team, who decimated the Bond University Bull Sharks girls’ team 46-12.