I can't recall any on this thread expressing an expectation to see a fifty/fifty gender balance, simply a desire to see more women in parliament. I believe a government should "represent" the people - and women make up 50% or more of the people. One of my earlier posts touched on some of the barriers to entering politics that you have repeated above - namely the travel, time away from family and the viciousness involved in politics, particularly in recent years. I, too, am biased favourably towards the present government. That doesn't stop me from hoping that some of the present barriers may prove to be less surmountable in the future, and that Abbott may do all in his power to encourage more active female participation in the field. Our society is making strides towards more equitable sharing of child-rearing and household duties, and an improvement in child-care facilities would certainly help in this regard. Why does nobody think twice about male politicians leaving their wives and children to fend for themselves for long periods to be perfectly normal, yet if a woman does likewise it's often viewed as aberrant behaviour? Are not men able to care for their children and homes just as well as women? In this day and age do we still cling to outdated views that only mothers are able to provide a nurturing environment for children and fathers exist purely to provide funding and the odd bit of discipline? Tony Abbott seems to be on the right course to deny the media the constant feeding frenzy they've become used to - let us hope our current politicians on all sides have learnt that the general population is tired of the nastiness and personal attacks.
My personal hope is for a greater balance. That doesn't necessarily mean a 50/50 split, but it also would be a far cry from the dearth of females we now have. Today's young women often have far thicker skins than their mothers' generation, and have been educated to believe they deserve the same opportunities in life as men. I'd like to see more of them enter, and thrive, in all the major political parties. I don't consider that hope to be at all unrealistic or simplistic, but it will take both time and a real willingness to foster equality from the coalition's current leadership.