Women in Agriculture and Business

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (12:19): I move:

That this house—

1. Congratulates the Women in Agriculture and Business of South Australia Inc., which was founded in Riverton, on its centenary held in Riverton on 28 and 29 October 2017.

2. Recognises the organisation’s achievements and services; and in particular for:

(a) encouraging interest and participation in activities of rural people and organisations, especially in primary industries;

(b) promoting goodwill, friendship and understanding among members;

(c) providing effective leadership to link Women in Agriculture and Business and Agricultural Bureau activities through the membership network;

(d) generating opportunities for educational, cultural and technical advancement to members, combining with other rural organisations where appropriate;

(e) encouraging and fostering the ability of women to take a shared responsibility for the community in which we live, from local to world level; pressing for recognition of the needs and worth of rural people at all levels of government; and

(f) promoting and supporting the preservation of our environment and ecology and care for the land.

Today, women are working in every occupation and every industry. Most women love the sense of achievement that working in male-dominated occupations brings, not to mention the better pay and also the recognition. It makes sense for young women to break out of traditional, narrow occupational choices and find out more about other options. Unfortunately traditional 'men's work', where women make up less than a quarter of the workforce, is often regarded by men as more important, and in some cases allows more independence, than comparable 'women's work', where women make up the majority.

Today, we not only see recognition of women who have historically been actively involved in agriculture but, more importantly, we see their roles increasing into what were once male-dominated industries. This is not only in the corporate world of private industry but also in transportation, especially in the ever-increasing activities in the resource sector. We also see an ever-increasing number of women taking an active role in politics at state, local and federal levels; just recently we have seen many female state premiers and, only recently, our first female prime minister.

However, the above has not always been the case with regard to women being accepted and acknowledged in the workforce. Women have always worked the land and helped provide the food to nourish Australians. Aboriginal women gathered their food as it ripened with the seasons in the annual cycle of migration. When the Europeans arrived in 1788, women worked with their husbands or farmed in their own right to develop primary production in Australia, but their roles went unacknowledged. Even now, as then, many of these women remain unacknowledged.

The lack of recognition for rural women in Australia actually has a historical basis. In the late 19^th century, the Australian government felt there was a sense of shame for a developing nation such as Australia to admit the extent of women's involvement in agriculture. There was a deliberate avoidance of recognising women's agricultural pursuits for fear of creating the impression that women were in the habit of working in the fields, as they were in some of the older countries around the world. It was not something a new and prospering country like Australia wanted to publicise. As a result, the census at the time no longer recorded women's farm work and, until 1994, the legal status for farm women was 'sleeping partner, non-productive'.

Australian agriculture can post a whole range of primary production and food processing industries, and women have always played a part in their development in the rural communities in which they are based. During World War II many women in Australia joined the Land Army and kept the economy afloat at home. Responding to need, often because of hardship and isolation, women have brought innovation to country Australia in the areas of both agriculture and the corporate world.

Australia went through a period of change when the contribution of farming women began to be publicly recognised. We saw some of the tall and brave 'poppies' being unjustly branded with lines like, 'Well, who does she think she is? You'd think her husband didn't work on the farm when you read or hear about what this woman is doing.' Thankfully, those reactions are disappearing. It is now commonplace to see or read about farming couples and families with women and men commanding equal recognition for their hard work and expert skills in their own right.

In an effort to address some of these cultural and social problems, government-sponsored rural women's networks, similar to Women in Agriculture and Business, have established themselves at national, state and local levels since the early 1980s. These networks encourage rural women to look beyond their individual context and to identify themselves as part of a much larger group of women. As the proverb goes, 'Women hold up half the sky.' I can vouch for that because my partner, Lyn, keeps telling me all the time.

While women's empowerment has traditionally been the prerogative of development organisations and equality advocates, corporate executives increasingly recognise that the issue belongs in the boardroom also, on the action agenda for business growth and competitiveness. Notwithstanding the real and substantial barriers that women face in policy, legal and cultural terms, several gaps offer quick wins for business engagement, especially in closing financing and input access disparities by understanding and serving women as suppliers, clients and customers. Capturing those opportunities will require a mindset shift for business.

As with new geographies, women entrepreneurs—arguably the world's largest neglected market—are best reached via a tailored approach. This will mean questioning lingering assumptions, such as the perceived riskiness of investing in women-owned SMEs and drawing from evidence-based approaches for grassroots engagement. Real progress depends on corporate leadership, and there is still ample space for early movers to step up. Businesses that do not find themselves in this situation or do not try this will be left behind. There are many different pathways students can take to study a non-traditional occupation. Your career pathway is the journey you take to reach your goals. You decide what pathway is right for you. In my role as the local member, that is something I encourage in young people and women.

WAB was formed in Riverton in 1917 to meet the needs of women who were isolated and who were working with their families to establish farms and homes in the rural districts. From those early days, the Women in Agriculture and Business (WAB) has had close links with the Agricultural Bureau and various government agricultural agencies. Women in Agriculture and Business of SA is a peak rural organisation assisting to create confident, skilled women recognised for their leadership and their contributions to vibrant and sustainable communities. WAB facilitates a range of activities through a statewide network that supports, encourages and develops women with rural, agricultural and business interests in their role as key decision-makers and facilitators in rural communities and in many primary industries.

Today, the Women in Agriculture and Business (WAB) has a formal affiliation with the Agricultural Bureau and is represented on the Advisory Board of Agriculture. WAB is also associated with the Associated Country Women of the World, which has links with the United Nations. It is also affiliated with the National Council of Women. Organisations such as WAB have encouraged females to look towards better achievement and recognition, and we are all the better for their dedication.

I congratulate Liz Calvert who has been state president for the last 12 months. The celebrations took place at Riverton, a small rural community of just over 800 or 1,000 people. This organisation has received world recognition, and 70,000 young women have benefited from this over many years. Liz Calvert is an unassuming person and she has done a wonderful job. The weekend was an absolute fantastic success. I congratulate the organisation and women in general, and I say to them, 'You can do anything you want. Just take the opportunity, believe in it and go for it.' As I previously said, the tall poppy syndrome that we have seen over the past few years is rapidly disappearing.

The celebration of a century of this great association was mentioned at the conference on Saturday, which I attended. There was a full house, and I must congratulate Rob Kerin who spoke on behalf of regional people. He did a fantastic job. Members of the state and federal government also gave recognition to these people. It was highlighted that the glass ceiling has now been smashed. Again, I congratulate the organisation, and I encourage young women—wherever they may be—to seize the opportunity and achieve their dreams.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (12:29): I rise to support this very good motion from the member for Frome. Women in Agriculture and Business is an absolutely outstanding organisation in South Australia and have been for 100 years now, as we know from the centenary celebrations that were held in late October in Riverton. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend those celebrations due to other electorate commitments. I know that Kendall Jackson, the Liberal candidate for Frome, was able to attend. She said it was an outstanding event supporting a truly wonderful organisation.

I have been fortunate, though, to attend other Women in Agriculture functions—a tremendous one once in Booleroo. Quite a few years ago, they asked me to come and speak with them. They have a very strong presence in that part of the world. Not too many months ago, I was able to attend a very special event for Women in Agriculture and Business here in Adelaide in the park in North Adelaide just off O'Connell Street, where they actually had the ceremonial planting of the rose that was bred to celebrate women in South Australia and the contribution they have made over many years.

As we know, Women in Agriculture have been around for 100 years. Interestingly, they started in Riverton. They were actually created there in Riverton. It is a bit unfortunate that they do not have a branch in Riverton anymore, but they are very strong in many other parts of Australia and South Australia. The working and social interaction between men and women in country and outback South Australia could not be more important.

I know it is important in the city. I am not comparing in any way, but my experience with the way families and businesses and communities operate in country and outback areas is that they could not and would not be what they are without organised, capable, hardworking, nurturing women who contribute everything you could possibly imagine, from raising families all the way through to leading large businesses in rural South Australia.

An interesting thing is that rural country areas, outback areas are sometimes considered to be more conservative, a bit more old-fashioned and maybe more chauvinistic, but let me tell you that men in country and outback areas value the women they live and work with enormously. There are features of country and outback life that perhaps to city dwellers might seem to be a bit more conservative, but let me tell you that it does not flow through in any way to respect for women or the understanding by men that women in country and outback areas can contribute to leadership roles of all sorts of descriptions.

There are women leading school governing councils, there are women who are principals, there are women who lead hospitals, there are women who lead transport organisations and there are women leading in senior police roles. There are women in every level of society in country areas, and men are glad to have them there. Men do not want to drag them back down. Men do not feel uncomfortable in that role at all. Let me say that that flows through across different ethnic and racial backgrounds as well. In Aboriginal communities, women play an incredibly strong leadership role in many ways.

In migrant communities in country and outback South Australia, women play a very important leadership role. Throughout country and outback South Australia, women are recognised as the people who will sometimes be supportive, sometimes be working side by side and sometimes be leading to make sure that the right things happen in their families, in their homes, in their communities and in their workplaces. In country and outback South Australia, we celebrate that fact, so I support the member for Frome's motion wholeheartedly.

Women in Agriculture and Business is a very significant organisation that contributes in the most grassroots of ways and also to some of the most senior leadership roles that exist in the nation. Their advice is valued everywhere they go. They are an outstanding organisation and I am very pleased to have many friends and acquaintances who are members of Women in Agriculture and Business.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (12:35): I strongly support this motion and would just like to say a few words. I will not repeat what the two previous speakers have already said; they have already covered a lot of ground, and they covered it very well. One thing I would like to talk about is the work of women in agriculture, horticulture and primary production. There is often a belief, particularly in metropolitan and inner-city areas, that women in the workforce is a recent thing. Women have been in the workforce since the year dot in country and regional areas.

Women have worked on farms for many centuries in Australia, as they have done in other countries, and that has not changed. I am very fortunate to meet with women in my electorate who have turned 100 years old. Invariably, a lot of the women in my electorate have actually retired from nearby farming communities. When you sit down with these women and talk about their stories, you realise they have often lived quite harsh and difficult lives. Having said that, they have never complain and think themselves quite fortunate.

What becomes apparent is that from the time they could walk, women, like men, have worked in agriculture. They worked while raising families. They rode horses and carts in the early days, and they worked in the paddocks, etc. Often that is not well understood in city areas, but as I said, these women have worked along side men since the year dot. As has already been mentioned, Aboriginal women also worked in their own communities. Migrant women, particularly in the Riverland and other communities, have worked alongside their partners and families, often in the blocks. They have driven tractors and done a lot of the hard work, so I think it is very important that we understand that when we talk about women in society we actually pay a special tribute to women in rural areas. Often, they have actually done a lot of the hard work.

I would also briefly like to mention a sister organisation: the Country Women's Association. I am very fortunate to have Mrs Linda Bertram in my electorate. Until recently, Mrs Bertram was state president of the Country Women's Association of South Australia. Through that organisation, Linda and other women have supported their communities in leadership roles. They have raised funds, supported young people who are struggling in their communities, and they have supported other women. Linda tells me she became involved in the Country Women's Association because she wanted to support the women in her community.

A lot of the women in rural communities often work in an environment where they suffer from isolation and loneliness due to the lack of services and support that we often take for granted in urban South Australia. There are a lot of good things about the Country Women's Association, but one of them is that they are one of the few service clubs which is actually growing in this state. They have opened new branches in Gawler and other areas—in fact, I recently received a list from Linda about all the new branches they have opened across South Australia.

Another good thing about the Country Women's Association is that they have been able to renew the organisation and work out how to stay relevant, how to involve younger women and how to involve women who now work differently. They have done a very successful job and, I must add, they have been far more successful than some of the service clubs which have traditionally been run by men. The women have actually listened to their communities; they have renewed their organisation. Linda was part of this push to renew and rebuild the organisation, and they are doing a wonderful job. With those few comments, I would like to first support the motion and, secondly, acknowledge the important role women have played in rural South Australia. Often, that is not fully understood or acknowledged in urban South Australia.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:39): I rise to support the motion congratulating Women in Agriculture and Business in South Australia on its centenary and acknowledge that I have been and remain a member for a very long time. In fact, my membership of this organisation predated my membership to the Country Women's Association, which I note the member for Light has addressed in his commentary.

It is an organisation that has not only predated the Country Women's Association in South Australia but has survived. I acknowledge in the leadership of WAB, as we know it, that, to ensure they remain contemporary, they have in recent years established an online service for communication between members. This has been an important addition to enabling our representatives who live in more remote areas of South Australia to remain connected and, of course, to be able to participate in the exchange of information and ideas, even if they are, for whatever reason, unable to attend local meetings.

Its recognition as providing a network to its members in South Australia is one thing, but of course it also very significant at an international level with other rural organisations. So, well done to the Woman in Agriculture and Business and to the leadership, who have ensured that its achievements have been recorded and also celebrated and, secondly, ensured that it has an online life to provide practical access to the next generation of women. Congratulations!

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:42): I rise to support this motion moved by the member for Frome, which states:

That this house—

1. Congratulates the Women in Agriculture and Business of South Australia Inc., which was founded in Riverton, on its Centenary held in Riverton on the 28 and 29 October 2017.

2. Recognises the organisation's achievements and services; and in particular for—

(a) encouraging interest and participation in activities of rural people and organisations, especially in primary industries;

(b) promoting goodwill, friendship and understanding among members;

(c) providing effective leadership to link Women in Agriculture and Business and Agricultural Bureau activities through the membership network;

(d) generating opportunities for educational, cultural and technical advancement to members, combining with other rural organisations where appropriate;

(e) encouraging and fostering the ability of women to take a shared responsibility for the community in which we live, from local to world level; pressing for recognition of the needs and worth of rural people at all levels of government; and

(f) promoting and supporting the preservation of our environment and ecology and care for the land.

I note that the mission statement from Women in Agriculture and Business is:

To facilitate a range of activities through a statewide network which supports, encourages and develops women with rural, agricultural and business interests, in their role as key decision makers and facilitators in rural communities and in primary industries.

Women in Agriculture and Business was first established in 1917, and I note that it was first established at Riverton, where they celebrated the centenary the other day, and it was to meet the needs of women who were isolated and who were working with their families to establish farms and homes in rural districts. Women in Agriculture and Business now has some 300 members.

To show that there is no gender bias in Women in Agriculture and Business, I note that I was an associate member for a while. I said, 'Is that appropriate?' and they said, 'Yep, that's fine,' so that was good. I would like to acknowledge the centenary celebrations at Riverton; I was not able to get there as I had other commitments. I note that the member for Frome was a sponsor and I was a sponsor and got some good coverage out of it.

I am very pleased to get on board and sponsor the centenary celebrations. Women take not just the supporting role but the leading role in rural life in many instances, whether or not it is actively being out there on the land. I can certainly talk about issues at sheep yards, which bring out either the best or the worst in men and women. It is a real teller of character to see how people get on. Before my wife and I were married, I remember that we were drafting some prime lambs on a block where we were share farming. We were leasing it for running these lambs. I was yelling at the dog, yelling at dad to shut the gate, as you do, and I must have yelled at my future wife. Next thing, she is walking off.

The Hon. G.G. Brock: You're game.

Mr PEDERICK: Well, it was probably a very light yell. I said, 'Where are you going?' She said, 'I'm not going to be spoken to like that.' I said, 'Look, we are handling sheep. That's how it is.' She did come back because it was about a 20-kilometre walk home.

The Hon. A. Piccolo: She probably regrets it now.

Mr PEDERICK: Exactly. I did not think it was too harsh, but when the action is on handling animals—and they can be a bit frustrating—you have to work with the situation. I would like to salute all women in agriculture who, as I said, have been in the lead role and also have been actively either running the properties or playing a true partnership role with their husband or partner in managing the properties. There are stories about women having to take over running a property who come from an urban background. Sharon Oldfield is one person who comes to mind from up north. Her husband died tragically in a plane accident many years ago. She took over Cowarie Station and is doing a great job. I have visited that station several times and seen how she runs the property.

I think that where women are truly the unsung heroes of agriculture and business is in doing the book work. I do not think that I was Robinson Crusoe as a farmer before I came in here, but paperwork was not my first choice when I came in from the paddock off the tractor or from handling livestock. I believe that, apart from the assistance or the main role women take in the outside jobs, in a very high percentage of cases they are the ones doing the GST returns. They are doing the book work. They are making sure the business just works.

Sadly, for too many of us blokes—and I put up my hand—our first choice is not to deal with the paperwork. Sure, we can handle how to put in a crop, how to take it off and how to raise livestock, but when it comes to going through the paperwork and making sure the business is operating effectively, thankfully, in the main, women are there doing that work. As I said, for most of us blokes, that is not our first choice, so I salute all the ladies who do that. It is a huge role.

As we know, with GST receipts it is unpaid work. It has to be done to make sure you get the claims right with the tax office. Apart from that, it is running the business, paying the bills on time and, if you are marketing stock or grain, making sure that that is on track and that the money is flowing in as well. The contribution of women in rural life will probably never be measured appropriately because of the amount of contribution they give both out in the field and in the office. I salute them.

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (12:49): I rise to make a brief contribution on this and not to go over the ground that other speakers have gone over except to say congratulations to the Women in Agriculture and Business on their 100-year anniversary. A woman in my office by the name of Courtney is a local of Saddleworth and Riverton and knows all things that go on over there and has been talking to me quite a bit about the work that these people do in her local community.

I want to specifically thank and acknowledge the work of the branches that exist within the beautiful electorate of Schubert, and in particular the Rosedale, Sandy Creek and Williamstown branch, which was formed in 1953, and the Tanunda branch, which was formed in 1950. We also have the former branches of Freeling, Wasleys and Light Pass.

The Tanunda branch have been a fantastic group of women, in particular Mel Hoffman who has been a stalwart of that branch; in fact, I am fairly certain that Mel has actually been a part of that branch for her its entire life. Whilst now their numbers are not that great and they are looking for new recruits, they have made a huge and valuable contribution to the Schubert electorate and to the Barossa Valley over the last 67 years and they are a welcome part of the fabric that makes up our beautiful community.

To the Women in Agriculture and Business, can I add my support and my thanks for the work that they do in helping to advance the cause of women in agriculture and business. I look forward to their contribution for many years to come.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (12:51): I want to thank everybody for their contribution. As everybody has indicated, I think society has changed dramatically from where it was many years ago. Again, everybody in this world is equal and, with the acknowledgement that we have all made today regarding the success and the great contributions that women make across all of South Australia and Australian in particular, I think we have learnt and become more appreciative of what we have.

In closing, again I would like to reinforce my commitment, as will others here I am sure, to ensuring that we give every young woman an opportunity to achieve the best they can in their life, no matter where they are or where they live, and in particular the people in the regions out there. Sometimes we may appear to be not recognising that, but you only have to look at some of the young kids coming up today and women in particular. They are the trailblazers for the future. I thank everybody for their contribution today.

Motion carried.