NSW: Up to five winnable seats set aside for Labor women

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NSW: Up to five winnable seats set aside for Labor women

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Up to five winnable Labor seats could be set aside for womencandidates in next year's NSW election in a bid to increase female representation, theparty confirmed today.

State Labor is also reportedly considering increasing the 20 per cent loading womencandidates get in preselections to as much as 50 per cent.

NSW ALP general secretary Eric Roozendaal said the plan was aimed at meeting the ALP'starget of having women make up 35 per cent of candidates in winnable seats for all parliaments.

While the party had met its obligation in the federal parliament, the NSW lower houseonly featured 22 per cent of women - 12 out of 55.

To meet the 35 per cent target, eight more women would be required.

But Mr Roozendaal said "up to five" would be more achievable.

He said the move was expected to have widespread support within the party.

"There is a national conference resolution that we should be up to 35 per cent in 2002,"

Mr Roozendaal told AAP.

"There is a strong expectation in the party that we should take every step possibleto reach that target."

Mr Roozendaal said the issue of female representation was covered in the recent Wranreview of the party structure.

Its report and recommendations are to be released at next month's state Labor conference.

NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon said Labor's move to attract women would be countered byits conservative culture which favoured men.

"Progressive women will not be attracted to Labor while it continues to almost matchthe Liberals on refugees and pushes an aggressive law and order agenda in NSW," she said.

"We think it is no coincidence that the Greens' Giz Watson in Western Australia isthe country's first openly lesbian MP and Senator Bob Brown is the first homosexual MPto be open about his sexuality."

AAP ls/arb/jmd/sb

KEYWORD: LABOR WOMEN LEAD