International Women's Day

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:29): I rise to speak on International Women's Day celebrated earlier this week on Tuesday 8 March and, in doing so, I am pleased to acknowledge that we have a woman in the Chair—the member for Florey. Our state of South Australia can be particularly proud of its part as a world leader in women's rights. While suffragette protests for the right to vote raged in cities like London and Boston in the later years of the 19^th century, South Australia went a step further when, in 1894, it became the first democracy in the world to grant women the dual rights to vote and to stand for election to parliament.

However, history reveals that it took another long campaign before the first women were elected to the South Australian parliament in 1959, and I say women because it was two with the election of Joyce Steel to the House of Assembly and Jessie Cooper to the Legislative Council. I am reminded of this every day as I sit in this chamber directly opposite the tapestry that celebrates the Centenary of Women's Suffrage in South Australia and events leading to what was to be a major parliamentary reform.

I also sit directly in front of the tapestry that depicts images which symbolise reforms that have helped make women equal before the law. We have, indeed, come a long way since the passing of the Commonwealth Franchise Act in 1902 when Australia became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote and to stand for federal parliament.

There have been great advances towards achieving equality in this country and there are many women who have been ground breakers in paving the way for others. This week in South Australia we gathered on the steps of state Parliament House to acknowledge some of these women with the launch of the public art 'let us be up and doing' exhibition, celebrating South Australia's history of women in government.

The phrase 'let us be up and doing' was used by Mary Lee, the secretary of the Women's Suffrage League, from its foundations in 1888 when campaigning for women's enfranchisement in South Australia. I encourage those who have not yet viewed this exhibition to go and look at the South Australian women who have served in our state and federal parliaments and learn more about their achievements, such as women like the Hon. Anne Levy AO, the first woman to be elected as president of the Legislative Council, Molly Byrne OAM and Rosemary Crowley AO.

Women who attended the launch of 'let us be up and doing', former members of parliament and many others have played a significant role in bringing the needs and rights of women to the fore in South Australia. The efforts of women to achieve equality, of course, go well beyond the walls of our parliament, so today I would like to recognise too the many women who do not make the headlines and who have not had the chance to move us with inspirational speeches or actions.

These are the women who have had to fight hard for everything they have achieved, often in unfair workplaces. Women who continue to have to juggle a career with raising a family, who drop the kids at school before heading to work and who often have to take work home so they can collect the children from after-school care or child care. The many single mothers, women who juggle their daily lives without the support of a partner. The women who, in addition to caring for their children, are today's carers for their parents. The women who are grandmothers and having raised their own children are now caring for their grandchildren. Women who spend their lives dedicated to the care of their child who, as an adult, is not able to care for themself because of disability or illness. They are champions and deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts and achievements.

International Women's Day recognises and honours these women too. Not only those whose names we know and who we admire. Women like my mother Janice and my mother-in-law Pamela, each who raised six children. Women like Diane at North East Community House in Hillcrest, Rille at Wandana Community Centre in Gilles Plains, Robyn who leads the Klemzig Neighbourhood Watch and Sheila who volunteers her time to many worthwhile causes including White Ribbon Day.

These are all women who walk the path and face the struggles that women of their generation face when equality issues were not enshrined in law. It acknowledges these women and others who have played a part towards achieving equality and fairness, whether through standing up for their rights in the workplace, at home, in learning institutions or in society generally. It acknowledges those who have taught or are teaching their children respect and the importance of respectful relationships and the fact that some things are worth standing up for. It acknowledges the efforts of these women who fought the fight and those who continue to do so, helping to make Australia a better fairer place for us all.