"It has nothing to do with the number of highly experienced and credentialled women who could do the job, and absolutely nothing to do with merit," she says.
At the federal level, after the 2016 general election, 29 per cent of the House of Representatives was female, as was 39 per cent of the Senate. The major political parties vary in their representation of women. The Greens are about gender equal; about 40 per cent of the ALP's members are women; in the the Liberal Party, they account for about 30 per cent.
"Women won the right to vote and to be elected to Parliament in 1902, but it took more than 40 years for the first woman to take her seat," says Morris. "Thereafter, women have been determined to make progress but the pace of change is glacial. We did not have our first female governor-general until 2009 and first female prime minister until 2010."
Several states and territories have had women premiers or first ministers, and it's a select, highly impressive group that includes Gladys Berejiklian, Anna Bligh, Lara Giddings, Kristina Keneally, Joan Kirner and Annastacia Palaszczuk.
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"The lack of women in politics has an impact on decision making and diversity of opinion," Morris says. WFEA researched why women do – and don't – enter politics for its report, Futureproofing Australia. "The results were both obvious and depressing," she says.
Cash and career were among the main reasons. It's expensive to run a campaign and at the same time potentially lose employment certainty and seniority. Childcare, the requirement to travel and long hours were other factors keeping women out of politics. Women also said they didn't jell culturally with the political sphere, and were turned off by what they saw as a bullying and at times aggressive environment.
Intense competition for key positions and subsequent undermining of trust and a perceived boys' club approach are other reasons. Distaste for the double standards inherent in political life also keep women out of the game.
City of Sydney independent councillor and small business champion, Angela Vithoulkas, knows how hard it is to juggle business and politics.
"I live in a world that has absolutely no balance. Five years ago when I was first elected, I didn't think it would be that much different. I just thought I was taking on another project and it would fit in with my life. I was very wrong," says Vithoulkas. "Business is very black and white for me; it's safe and comfortable. Politics is grey, dirty and full of Machiavellian scenarios. So I'm not surprised more businesswomen don't take up the political mantel."
In fact, Vithoulkas says she's not sure she would have taken this path had she known how tough it would be.
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"But I feel compelled to stay because, despite some disappointing aspects, there are so many people in our community who need someone to fight for them, and who cares more for them than votes," she adds.
Vithoulkas is the exception that proves the rule. I think for most women in small business, being involved in politics is simply unrealistic given the demands on their time from other spheres.
As a group, we have an opportunity to participate more in the political sphere. There are ways of becoming involved that don't require the commitment required to sit in Parliament. For instance, becoming part of the local chamber of commerce or joining groups like WFEA are ways to have a say about political issues that affect business without too much of a time commitment.
At Imalia, we believe it's important to get involved. Otherwise, we can't complain when political decisions affect the way we run our businesses.
What do you think? Why are more women business owners not involved in politics? Have your say in our Facebook group:
If you are inspired and would like to join the revolutionary movement that Imalia is creating, you can request to join our Facebook group The Wolfpack, to share ideas and learn from other like-minded women.
This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on Sydney Morning Herald.