From diplomacy to security, Australian women missing from world stage

Absence detrimental to national interest and hindering foreign policy objectives, Lowy Institute review finds

Women are not just underrepresented in parliament, company boards and senior management - they are also missing from Australia's international relations presence, an absence described as "detrimental to the national interest [which] hinders the achievement of our foreign policy objectives".

While gains have been made across some commonwealth departments, a Lowy Institute review of those public service agencies which deal with how Australia is presented to and deals with the world - trade, foreign affairs, defence, attorney general, home affairs, treasury, prime minister and cabinet and the nation's intelligence agencies - lag significantly behind.