GENDER EQUITY

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (16:00): I would like to endorse the comments that have been made by members about the importance of soon-to-be St Mary MacKillop. I note that my electorate of Reynell had a key role in her life in that it was in the Catholic church in Morphett Vale that her excommunication was lifted. I am pleased that whatever people's religious beliefs we can respect Mother Mary MacKillop as an Australian woman of great integrity and great social conscience. I think in today's parlance she would be described as a feminist: somebody who was clearly of the view that women can manage themselves—

The Hon. S.W. Key: And probably a socialist, too.

Ms THOMPSON: —and, as the member for Ashford says, probably a socialist too, with her emphasis on the education of the poor. However, while I want to talk today on the matter of women's role in the community, it is not about Mother Mary MacKillop. Instead, I want to address some words of the Leader of the Opposition during the estimates session on 7 October, when she said in a question to minister Holloway:

Perhaps I could ask the minister a question on that issue of gender equity. Does the minister agree that, if it is not necessary to be of a particular gender to perform the tasks of a particular position, then gender equity is achieved when the appointment makers are, if I may use the expression, blind to the gender of the applicant?

Now, I respect the Leader of the Opposition. She has considerable achievements in her world of the Liberal Party. She has made a contribution to community life and must be respected for being the first South Australian woman leader of the Liberal Party. However, it does seem that leader's life has been a little bit sheltered in her use of the term 'gender blindness'.

The other day I was coming back from Melbourne on the early morning flight. I was astounded to see the row of black suits being worn by men in front of me. I have not done that for a few years and I had hoped things had changed. In fact, the row of men in black suits was longer than it was, I think, 15 years ago. I was very relieved when a couple of women, in black suits, came up to join the queue behind me, but was still alarmed that, from their conversation, I could hear that they were public servants. They were federal public servants, and the federal and the state public service have always been places where women have thrived better than in private industry.

The gender blindness is something that occurs in our community. If you are asked to name your best mates, if you are asked to name who you know who can do this, that or the other thing, you usually name someone of your own gender. We do not need to look very far to see that there are men's networks and there are women's networks and that it has been very difficult for women to join some of the major networks.

I think we would have to say that one of the biggest networks of men in South Australia is the old collegians of St Peter's College, and also of Prince Alfred College. Those people stick together very closely and, from conversations with some of them, it is quite clear that they see the role of 'old collegiate' as very important and support each other in advancement in business and community life.

The role of targets for boards and communities is to reduce gender blindness. It is to ask people to look beyond their first reaction in terms of suggestions for committees. It is to ask them to look at the fact that we need comprehensive backgrounds and different perspectives if our business and public organisations are to really thrive. Yes, men and women are brought up differently in our community. They often have different interests. Those different interests often bring a rounded contribution to whatever the task is. So, the target makes people say, 'Is there a woman or is there a man beyond my normal circle of acquaintances who might, indeed, be the best person for this job?'