There’s a feeding frenzy over Anika Wells’ expenses. But if we want women in parliament it needs to be more family-friendly

‘If we want parliament to reflect society, we need working women with young children to be there, fighting for policy changes that help others like them.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

There’s nothing quite like the feeding frenzy in Canberra when there’s blood in the water.

Political journalists and every opposition staffer are currently scouring the records of the independent parliamentary expenses authority looking for a fresh angle to try to claim the scalp of the communications minister, Anika Wells.