WORKING WOMEN'S CENTRE

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (15:19): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning, representing the Minister for Industrial Relations, a question about funding for the Working Women's Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: The Working Women's Centre has operated in South Australia since 1979, almost 30 years, and as an indication—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Members will cease talking during the last few minutes of question time.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: As an indication of its success, during 2006-07 alone 3,700 women were assisted with employment issues. In addition to that direct advocacy, the centre has taken on a community education role around issues relating to women in the workplace, such as paid maternity leave, workplace bullying, outworkers, the impact of legislative changes and the impact of domestic violence on women and their workplace.

It has been advised informally that there will be no more federal funding. It has been told that it will not be invited to extend its contract with the workplace authority. The centre has been attempting to negotiate with the Deputy Prime Minister's office since November last year. It has said that, with the reduction in funding, it will not have to close at this stage in South Australia, but it will have $97,000 less to operate on. My questions are:

1. Does the minister recognise the role of the Working Women's Centre in assisting with research and projects on work/life balance, retaining women in employment and supporting and promoting the role of women in leadership positions, and does he agree that the contribution of the Working Women's Centre is valuable and deserving of ongoing funding support?

2. Will the minister consult with his federal counterpart, Julia Gillard, and advise her of the value of this work?

3. If federal funding is cut, what increase in state funding would the minister consider providing?

4. If the Working Women's Centre has to close, where does the minister suggest women who are experiencing workplace bullying should seek assistance in the future?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:21): The honourable member draws attention to a very important area and, of course, my colleague in another place (the member for Hartley, Grace Portolesi) has chaired a committee that specifically looked at the very important question of work/life balance. In relation to the specifics of funding, I will refer that question to my colleague in another place and bring back a reply.