Should We Look Up or Down Under for Inspiration?

I've had it with Australia. The relationship with our former colony used to be simple. They grabbed the plaudits for sun, sport and BarBQ'ing ability - but when it came to tackling sexism and gender enlightenment it was always Britain that led the way.

It's all relative

Australians are now rubbish at sport (sorry, couldn't resist) but when it comes to getting more out of talented women, everyone's pointing down under as the place for inspiration. So what's going on?

First off we had people trumpeting the success of Australian mining tycoon Gina Rinehart as the richest woman in the world; as if she was anything other than a tough cookie who inherited a fortune.

Then we heaped praise on the Australian Government for forcing all companies to report on gender - only thing is, it's not law yet despite the airtime.

More recently we had Women on Boards arrive in the UK with their Australian backers full of the "amber nectar". I mean nice idea but it's nothing ground breaking! Did we really need yet another body in this space?

And finally we had rave reviews for Julia Gillard's Sexism and Misogyny speech in the Australian Senate. (Great and powerful stuff by the way, notwithstanding the awful nasal tones). The speech was delivered to Prime Minister in waiting Tony Abbott (he of the tight swimming trunks), but it was the hyperbole around the speech that got to me.

Tony Abbott is by all accounts an inspirational leader with a well-adjusted family and a diverse shadow cabinet. He also held some, let's call them, "more traditional gender views" 15 years ago. But if he has half a brain and any emotional intelligence he will be fully aware that half of the most talented people in the world are women. I don't believe you can be an effective political leader these days without that being the case. To generalise, castigate a man for something he did a long time ago and you'll get a bad reaction; give him a bit of praise for doing something well now and you'll be amazed at the results!

Just in case

My wife doesn't read this blog (yet); I'm still hoping she will! And in fact I love Australia (I spent a great year there in my youth and went back in 2003 for the rugby) - but things were definitely simpler when they did sport well and sexism badly.

Ben Black