A Tasmanian man who only has a job because the founders of Australia’s parliamentary system implemented a rule ensuring equal representation for smaller states, says a rule to ensure equal representation of the sexes is unworkable.

Quotas for women – who make up 50% of the population – are unfeasible, said the man from a state that has just over 2% of the population, but by law has almost 16% of its senators.

The man, who almost certainly would not have won a senate spot if he lived literally anywhere else in Australia, said jobs should only be awarded on merit.

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