Open Forum: Sexism in Australian Politics

Former Democrats Leader Cheryl Kernot and leading feminist Eva Cox AO will discuss sexism in Australian politics at a special University of Western Sydney Open Forum next week.

The forum will be held on 18 October on the UWS Parramatta South campus, in building EA.G.19 at 6pm.  

Cheryl Kernot is a former leader of the Australian Democrats, and represented the party in Queensland for seven years. She later joined the ALP and successfully ran for the seat of Dickson in the 1998 election. Ms Kernot is currently the Director of Social Business at the Centre for Social Impact.

Eva Cox AO is one of Australia's leading feminists, having featured on a series of four stamps honouring women who have contributed to gender equality. The other three women who appeared were Germaine Greer, Elizabeth Evatt and Anne Summers. 

The forum will be chaired by Dr Sev Ozdowski, the former Human Rights Commissioner and current Director of Equity and Diversity at UWS. 

"We are lucky to have two such distinguished public figures discussing one of the most talked about topics in Australian politics right now," says Dr Ozdowski.

"As one of Australia's first female political leaders, Cheryl Kernot was in many senses a trailblazer for people today such as Julia Gillard and Quentin Bryce, and Eva Cox is well known and highly respected for her pioneering efforts to make Australian society a more fair place."

"It will be fascinating to see what they make of the current discussion surrounding sexism in federal politics."

WHAT: Open Forum: Sexism in Australian Politics