The “killing season” headlines are not new. Nor is speculation about a woman’s ability to survive a high-pressure role, while the (mostly male) sharks smell blood.

But as Australia’s political class and media focus on whether Sussan Ley can survive beyond Christmas as the Liberal Party’s first female leader, Australia’s democracy and track record for helping women get into politics is being lauded internationally.

Sussan Ley stepped into one of the toughest jobs in politics this year. Credit: David Beach

The irony is that while we often fixate on the fragility of women’s leadership, the rest of the world sees Australia as a success story.

This week, I am attending an international gathering of change-makers, innovators and reform leaders who are advancing democracy around the world. The Better Politics Foundation wants the gathering in Berlin not only to celebrate democratic leadership but to champion bold political ideas for the 21st century.

What few people in Australia can possibly know is that Australia is being lauded as a country that has made genuine, measurable progress – not only in the number of women elected, but in the systems that support them to run, win and lead. One delegate even told me that Europeans want to “rub up against” Australia in the hope that some of our successes will be transferred.

Australia achieved its highest-ever ranking for gender equality …........

© The Sydney Morning Herald