Nats want more women, not so many big hats

The Nationals say they're more than just "blokes in big hats", as they push to get more women into federal parliament.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Darren Chester

Nationals' frontbencher Darren Chester says the party needs to get more women into parliament. (AAP)

The Nationals are trying to get more women into parliament as they try to prove they're more than just "blokes in big hats".

Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester said the party has to broaden its base to win votes in larger regional centres.

"We have been pretty good at getting women into senior roles within the organisational wing of our party and in state parliament. But we certainly have a long way to go in the federal parliament," Mr Chester told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

"It's proven that regional voters will support female candidates once they get the chance."

He said a working group of MPs has formed, to come up with ways to get more Nationals women into federal politics.

Mr Chester said he didn't expect it would recommend quotas, but it would take practical steps to nurture female talent and get women preselected in winnable seats.

"The Nationals are much more than blokes in big hats," he said.

"We need to demonstrate that by actively working to broaden our base and to win more seats in some of our larger, regional centres."


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Source: AAP



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