Motions

Zonta Club

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.B. Martin:

That this council—

1. Notes that 2024 marks the 55th year of the Zonta Club of Adelaide;

2. Recognises the significant contribution the Zonta Club has made to empowering the women of South Australia; and

3. Congratulates all those who have contributed to the work of the Zonta Club over the last 55 years.

(Continued from 10 April 2024.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:23): It is my absolute pleasure to support this motion that the Hon. Reggie Martin has brought before us today in support of the fine women of Zonta. Indeed, over the years I have had quite a bit to do with Zonta, not as a member but as a member of parliament, although previously working with them across a range of human rights issues and advocacy issues when I was employed and active with the YWCA.

Zonta International has its foundations back in 1919. It comes from a Sioux Indian word meaning honest and trustworthy, and that name was adopted in 1930. Today, Zonta International is a global organisation of more than 28,000 women and men in more than 1,100 Zonta Clubs in 63 countries. Zonta International has an international voice for change on matters relating to women and girls through its general consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and consultative status with UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Women, the International Labour Organization, Council of Europe and the international Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs.

The wonderful Zonta Club of Adelaide would be well known to many people in this place. It certainly does wonderful things in our community. It has been going since 1969, which is for almost as long as I have been alive as I was one year old. It began as the first club to be established in our state of South Australia. The first committee set up in the Zonta Club of Adelaide was the Status of Women committee, which over the years contributed to many major government policy initiatives and went on to do wonderful work for women's development not just here in South Australia but right across the globe.

Certainly, Zonta International continues to be as relevant as it ever was and as needed as it ever was, and so I am very happy to support this particular motion. I note that most recently Zonta International has made contributions on two issues of concern to this particular council in this parliament, which includes their support for a human rights charter or act for our state and their contention that all laws should respect human rights when decisions are made and that the human rights impact should be considered and that remedies should be available where human rights have not been considered or have been breached without justification.

Further, of course, they have pointed to the debate around sex work and the decriminalisation of sex work and indeed drawn our attention as members of this parliament to the decriminalisation of sex work, which would ensure that sex workers would have more agency to choose where they provide their services and that their sexual health requirements are considered. Indeed, it would also, Zonta argues, be a platform where parties in the transactions are treated more equally. As the Zonta submission to the human rights framework reads:

Sex workers should be regulated like workers in any other industry; this would help address stigma, discrimination and adverse health outcomes for these workers.

They point to the fact that a human rights act or charter would also support those rights of sex workers, so I hope in the near future to see some of those efforts of our local Zonta women put into practice in this place through both the decriminalisation of sex work and a human rights charter in this state. I wish them every success and prosperity in the fine work they do not just here in South Australia but right across the globe.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:27): I rise on behalf of the Liberal opposition to support this motion and I thank the Hon. Reggie Martin for introducing this particular motion to the council. On behalf of the Hon. Michelle Lensink, I would also like to convey her very sincere personal congratulations to the Zonta Club of Adelaide. As many honourable members would know, the Hon. Michelle Lensink has been the Liberal spokesperson for the status of women since 2007 and she has passionately supported the status of woman and has had a long association with the Zonta Club of Adelaide.

In speaking to this motion, I would like to congratulate the Zonta Club of Adelaide for its 55^th anniversary. For over half a century, this esteemed organisation has been a beacon of hope, empowerment and positive change for women in South Australia and worldwide. I would also like to acknowledge that the Zonta Club of Adelaide had the first club charter in South Australia.

I would like to pay tribute to Dr Heidi Taylor, often called Mother Zonta, who began life in East Prussia. She trained as a nurse during World War II, later qualifying as a doctor. After marrying, she moved to England and in 1959 migrated to Australia. As a migrant, Heidi initially worked in an Adelaide medical laboratory, before studying to requalify as a medical doctor in Australia in 1967. In 1968, Heidi was appointed a director of a unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she successfully fought for gender equality. In 1969, Heidi became a charter member of the Zonta Club of Adelaide, the first Zonta Club in South Australia, and was an active club member until close to the time of her death. She held almost every position on the club's board and consistently provided positive support for each new president.

I want to commend the Zonta Club of Adelaide, which has been a steadfast advocate for women's rights, working tirelessly to address critical issues such as gender equality, violence against women and economic disparity. Through their various program initiatives Zonta have made a tangible difference in the lives of countless women. One of the cornerstones of Zonta's mission is advocacy. The club champions local, national and international initiatives that promote women's legal rights, health, education and economic independence. This commitment to advocacy is evident in the club's efforts to develop a national advocacy strategy through the national Zonta Australia group for advocacy.

I also commend Zonta for their great community engagement and fundraising. Some of the success stories or deliveries that Zonta Club have done include 24,000 birthing kits and they made more than 9,000 breast cushions for breast cancer patients. They raised over $100,000 in scholarships. They also provide hands-on support and funding at the Eastern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service and donated $68,000 to Zonta Foundation for Women to support Zonta's international project.

In conclusion, once again it is a great honour to be able to support this motion on behalf of the Liberal Party. I thank the honourable member for moving this motion and wish the Zonta Club of Adelaide another 55 years and more longevity to come in their strong advocacy and support for women.

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (16:32): I start by thanking the Hon. Tammy Franks and the Hon. Jing Lee for their contributions and support for this motion. This motion recognises the 55^th anniversary of the Zonta Club of Adelaide. In their 55 years, they have done an amazing job improving and advocating for the rights of women in Adelaide, in South Australia and, as the Hon. Tammy Franks pointed out, Zonta Club globally also plays a very important role.

I add that it is an appropriate time to pass this motion, with Volunteers Week starting next week. Clubs like the Zonta Club and so many like them are organised and run by volunteers and they make such an enormous contribution to our state. It would not happen without the role of those volunteers. I congratulate them on their 55^th anniversary and look forward to many more years of the Zonta Club providing advocacy, support and services to women across the state.

Motion carried.