Barnett 'merit' jibe riles WA Labor women

WA Premier Colin Barnett has angered women in the state opposition by saying some of them "would not have got there on merit".

WA Premier Colin Barnett

WA Premier Colin Barnett has said some women in WA Labor "would not have got there on merit". (AAP)

West Australian Labor women are furious after the premier suggested some of them would not be in parliament without the party's quota system.

Labor's system meant some female MPs "would not have got there on merit", Colin Barnett said.

"Just compare them. Have a look for yourself," he said on Sunday.

Mr Barnett made the controversial remarks when asked if the Liberal Party should adopt a quota system to increase the number of female MPs.

It follows Prime Minister Tony Abbott's call for the Liberals to become less "blokey" and increase the number of women in the parliament and the ministry - although he believes the party should not impose a quota.

Labor MP Rita Saffioti, whose portfolio includes finance and planning, said Mr Barnett's comments were "outrageous".

"I think he has a problem with woman who speak their mind ... strong women who question him," Ms Saffioti told AAP on Monday.

"It's completely out of line. Absolutely out of touch.

"It's no wonder that more women, particularly on the Liberal side, aren't attracted to politics with leaders who view women like that."

Sue Ellery, the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council, said Mr Barnett should either apologise or "put his money where his mouth is and tell us which one of us is not up to the job".

"He really needs to think what is the message he's sending to women who are considering entering parliament," she told reporters.

Opposition women's interest spokeswoman Simone McGurk said she hoped Mr Barnett's comments would actually motivate females to enter politics.

"We really need to get rid of these sort of crusty attitudes. They really have no place in 2015."

Minister for Women's Interests Liza Harvey said she didn't support quotas, because she wouldn't want her career to be advanced through affirmative action.

"I wanted to get there because my skills set was going to complement the skills set that the party needed," she said.


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Source: AAP


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