All Australian political parties should "get real" and use quotas to ensure they have enough women in their ranks, according to a finalist for Australian of the Year.
Journalist and gender equality advocate Virginia Haussegger - the ACT's nominee - missed out on the national award on Friday night, but remains determined to help level the playing field for women in all areas of their lives.
As the federal government continues to grapple with how it can best boost its number of women, Ms Haussegger has offered up some advice.
"We have quotas for all sort of things. We have quotas in political parties, we have quotas for factions within political parties," she said.
"So of course we should have quotas for women...it is idiotic not to."
Ms Haussegger said research from across the world shows gender quotas for parliaments are effective.
"The time has come for us to say c'mon, we need to get real."
The advocate said for every 10 politicians only one was a woman when she joined the media 30 years ago - and now barely three are women.
"That is not progress. That is way too slow."
Women hold 12 of the coalition's 74 seats in the lower house, with the number dwindling after Julia Banks quit the party to sit as an independent.
Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis also announced in September she won't recontest the election, pointing the finger at bad behaviour in the NSW division, with Warren Mundine announced this week as her replacement.
Jane Prentice lost preselection for her Brisbane-based seat to a man, while Melbourne's Kelly O'Dwyer has revealed she won't be running again as she aims to have a third child and spend more time with her first two.
Her replacement is yet to be selected, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he wants a woman candidate chosen.
Ms Haussegger said it was "very disappointing" to see senior and successful women in politics feel they need to withdraw because it's too hard to balance family with their career.
"Whilst that continues, we've got the mix wrong," she said.
"We need to really seriously look at work practices, not just in parliament but right across all our industries."
The Liberals have long resisted calls to follow Labor by introducing gender quotas, arguing their candidates should be chosen on merit alone.
