AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about Australia Day awards.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The minister has spoken before in this place about the importance of recognising the achievements and contributions of women, and I hope and trust that she will continue to do so. On the opening of nominations for the Australia Day awards, can the minister provide some information for members who may wish to nominate women for these awards?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Nominations for Australia Day awards are due in by the end of this month, and I take this opportunity to remind all members and all South Australians that they can nominate women for these significant awards.

It is unfortunate that the track record across the nation is that, for every woman nominated, two men are nominated for awards and this, unfortunately, is also reflected in the numbers that go on then to be actually awarded honours. There are many people, both men and women, doing great things for our community, and it is important that women's contributions are equally acknowledged and rewarded. Women, as we know, are often the quiet achievers and can be easily overlooked.

This is a great opportunity for South Australians to do their bit to help rectify this imbalance. Nominating a woman who you might think has made a positive contribution to the community is a great way of recognising her work. Members and the public might choose to nominate a prominent woman in the public eye but you can also think about a woman in your community who is more of an unsung hero and who has not currently been recognised for her efforts.

I believe that the Australia Day award nominations provide a real opportunity to highlight the contributions of South Australian women from all walks of life and from across the state. It is an unfortunate social reality that women do not tend to blow their own trumpet. Australians are, as a rule, socialised not to draw attention to our successes—we often understate them—and women are even more prone to this. This makes it even more important for all of us to take that small step to nominate the outstanding individuals that we might know about who come across our paths to bring them to the notice of the broader community.

These contributions to our community come from myriad forms, whether it is an old lady who has been working tirelessly to revegetate a patch of bush or someone who has dedicated years of service to helping in a hospital. Our community is enriched by their selfless work, and their contributions should be recognised and celebrated by us all. It really is a great way for us to thank these women for being leading citizens, role models and inspirations to all of us for making South Australia a better place to live.

Seeing more women honoured is also an important message to send to our young women. It is a way of helping us show them that women are valued in our community and that they, too, can do important and significant things. Nominations for the awards close on 31 August 2010, and I understand that state and territory recipients will be announced in November and then proceed to the national level of judging. The national award recipients are announced on Australia Day eve in Canberra, and the Australian of the Year awards website can be visited at www.australianoftheyear.org.au for more information on awards.