WOMEN RULE IN THE NT

Once the blokiest part of Australia, the Northern Territory is now leading the way with women leading in politics. For the first time anywhere in Australia, the head of the government and the leader of the opposition are both women. Claire Martin led the Labor Party to a landslide victory (her second) in last month’s territory elections. She vanquished the Country Liberal Party including the leader of the oppsition who lost his seat. The CLP has now come back smaller (only 4 seats in parliament) but with a fresh new face. Their new leader is 39 year old Jodeen Carney, a lawyer who is the member for the Alice Springs seat of Araluen. Her deputy is Fay Miller. Jodeen is a strong feminist, has worked in the area of violence against women and last year defied her party to vote in favour of gay law reform.