Labor’s Lisa Chesters, who became the first woman to hold the seat when she was elected in 2013, will face fierce competition to retain it from Liberal candidate Megan Purcell, who won preselection on Tuesday night.

Two women representing the major parties in Bendigo shouldn’t be significant in and of itself. After all, this is a democracy and the best person for the job – regardless of gender, race, religion, wealth or fame – should be the person elected.

But the fact that it has taken more than 100 years for this scenario to eventuate makes it significant.

Women are still hugely under-represented in Canberra, just like they are in most other political capitals around the world. 

Australia granted women the right to stand for election back in 1902. But it wasn’t until 1943 that Enid Lyons became the first woman elected to federal parliament.

Even in 2016, women occupy only about 26 per cent of seats in the House of Representatives. This is a figure that is slightly higher in the Senate – but at about 38 per cent is still too low.

Overall, woman comprise only about 29 per cent of all Australian parliamentarians. This figure places us outside the top 40 countries when it comes to women in government.

In the past 30 years, society has evolved and politics can no longer afford to be a boys’ club. In that time, Australia has had its first female premiers and, in Julia Gillard, its first female prime minister. 

But pathways into politics for women are still limited. At the 2013 election, only about 27 per cent of candidates were female.

This figure correlates with the percentage of candidates eventually elected – suggesting that more female candidates would equate to more women in parliament.

As a nation, we must encourage more women to enter politics, with the ultimate aim of having an even spread of men and women elected because the public believes them more capable of governing than anyone else.  

Both Ms Chesters and Ms Purcell will be seeking to shape themselves as such figures in coming months – and let’s hope, in the process, they can show young women with political aspirations what is possible.

- Shane Worrell, reporter