ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the experiences of women employed in bureaucratic positions in departments of agriculture and primary industries across the country. It describes the views of a selection of women at senior and middle management levels in Departments of Agriculture in all states and territories including those of many of the women working in mainstream areas and agricultural femocrats past and present are presented. Women noted that the agricultural departments own lack of attention to gender equity within the bureaucracy makes them a poor model for introducing equity strategies to the wider agricultural community. Women in agricultural departments report that their attempts to advance women into agricultural decision making are constrained by the culture of farmer bodies which are exclusionary and resist efforts for women to have a greater input. Finally, it is evident that the support of politicians and senior bureaucrats for the advancement of women is vital to the amount of departmental energy focused on women.
