A Labor MP wants to increase female representation in Australia, starting with traffic lights.
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Over the summer, Victorian MP Kate Thwaites received a letter from a young constituent which made her reflect on the importance of representation.
Eight-year-old Elle, from Heidelberg in Ms Thwaites' Jagajaga electorate, said she had noticed the pedestrian crossing lights in her area only portrayed men.
Elle suggested her local MP push for change so that both male and female figures appeared on the lights.
Ms Thwaites promised to progress Elle's traffic light suggestion, while also pushing for broader action on gender equality.
"For too many young girls in our community, when they look around, they see symbols of men. They see that the representation does not look like them," she told parliament.
"We are a government that is doing the piece that changes what people see: we have women in positions of power, we have many female leaders leading across the spectrum in our government, we have many female MPs in this place."
After the 2022 federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed the most gender-equal ministry in Australian history, made up of 19 female frontbenchers and 10 female cabinet ministers.
A record number of women were elected to the House of Representatives, including 19 first-term MPs.
Australian Associated Press
