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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
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WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

Adjourned debate on motion of Ms Bedford:

That on the 126th anniversary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, this house—

(a) recognises the South Australian branch's work from the early days of settlement in this state, its work on women's enfranchisement and personal safety; and

(b) commends its continuing work on exposing the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.

(Continued from 1 March 2012.)

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:04): I rise to commend the member for the motion to recognise the 126th anniversary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and, in particular, for the house to recognise its work from the early days of settlement on women's enfranchisement and personal safety, and its continuing work on exposing issues about the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse. There are very few institutions in our state that have stood the test of time, and it is fair to say that those who have an interest and passion in women and, also, history in South Australia, will understand the significance of their being so interrelated.

Most of the significant advances of this state have been on the backs of the tears, hard work and sometimes extraordinary sacrifice of women, and this organisation, in particular, has a history in which it has never shirked from the hard issues and never bowed to any public disquiet or discontent, or assertions made by others in the community that they are off the track. Indeed, it just has intensified their resolve.

The motion itself recognises that in South Australia we have had important advances in mental health; the provision of primary and other health care for children; the protection and support of women during what was in earlier years known as 'confinement', but during their maternity; and the advance of girls in our education system. One advance that has permeated our whole history is the use and abuse of alcohol and substances. This probably is the most outstanding issue for which I have noted the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Of course, it has a very significant role in women having the right to stand for parliament, as is recognised here in our own chamber by the tapestries. I will not dwell on that because it has been well covered, but it is not to be overlooked. I want to mention, though, their work in relation to the abuse of alcohol and substances. Some younger people today I think would take the view that hoon driving, drinking to excess, going to hotels, and I forget what they call it—what is drinking when they drink in a hurry?

An honourable member: Binge.

Ms CHAPMAN: Binge drinking, yes—is something that is new. If anyone reads the history of South Australia, they will have a very clear understanding of the enormous number of suicides that took place in this state during periods of financial and social hardship in the 19th century, and the abuse of alcohol by, I would have to say, principally men—they are probably the ones who had access to money to acquire it.

The development of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union drew attention to the social ills that resulted, such as children being left unfed or fatherless, circumstances where there had been abuse of women and failure to provide—all these issues, which also played a very significant part in, ultimately, women having the right to stand for parliament and to vote in this state. The intemperate behaviour of others in the community was probably one of the most significant reasons that this petition that stands here in this house was signed.

Women wanted to have an opportunity to be in the parliament to make decisions about what they described as saving their menfolk from these ills when they were facing very difficult circumstances. I am not here to pass any judgement on the men of the day. I make the point that they were tough times and there was a very strong resolve of the women in the community to have a right to come into this parliament, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union had that role.

As we go through history in relation to the use and abuse of alcohol, in particular, this is an organisation which marched in the streets—against the rallying troops who were feeding into the media of the day—insisting that, to try to contain this problem, the availability of alcohol should be restricted and that there should be 6 o'clock closing in hotels. Remember, this was an era when hotels really were a realm that was inalienable to women, unless they worked there cleaning rooms or emptying urine pots. Frankly, they did not have access to the benefits of public houses and it was a place for travelling salesman to stay, and for working men generally to be able to have alcohol, free of women.

An honourable member interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: Still is today, yes. However, the fact is that reducing access to alcohol was seen as a prime reason why the Woman's Christian Temperance Union wanted to march on this issue—and they marched. They had no problem with going out and having their protest. Really, these women put to shame some of the more pathetic protests that we see today by some groups which think that they only need to go to a meeting or sign a petition and that is enough.

These women wrote letters, insisted that they have articles published in papers, they published newsletters and had the printers going, no doubt without any electrical benefit, they marched the streets and they demanded at that particular time that the issue be addressed.

It is not to be overlooked, in my view, the significance of women when they get hold of an issue, and in particular with the assistance of groups such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They should be acknowledged for corralling that women power and making sure that it has an effective message.

Guess what? Six o'clock closing did come to this state. Obviously, there have been changes to different laws since that time and I will not go into that, but when it comes to ensuring that health services are there for women and protesting against hospital closures in country regions, these are all areas where women have been very effective. I hope that in the future, the member having brought this matter to the house's attention, members will read these more carefully.

When you get a little letter from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and it has in it a little confirmation of the motions passed—I assume mostly unanimously—to advise us where we should be looking to secure the protection of women and the advancement of a civilised society, have a good read of what they have to say because 99 per cent of the time it is good, plain common sense.

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (12:12): I have a brief contribution. I commend the member for Florey for moving this motion but note that it takes a long time for some of these matters to be brought to a vote. I have corresponded with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union over many years. To be honest, I enjoy a drink but I do not drink to excess and have never been drunk. However, I believe there is a role for groups like this.

As the member for Bragg pointed out, they have done more than expose the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse; they have actually been an effective lobby group for women's issues, women's safety and so on, and I commend them for that. I think it is important, especially in a society where, as I have said in other places, Australians do not have blood in their veins, I think they have alcohol.

Some people consume alcohol to excess—that is a generalisation—and it causes a lot of harm in the community. When you look at domestic violence, road accidents and in a lot of other areas, people who do not use alcohol sensibly and wisely cause a lot of pain, suffering and even death. So I think it is important that groups like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union help provide a moderating voice so that, as a society, we rein in the abuse of alcohol.

This group, by its very name, would suggest probably no alcohol but the reality is that we live with alcohol. I enjoy a drink—a beer and a wine—but, sadly, I think in Australia we have overdone it at times and some people still overdo it in terms of consuming too much alcohol, which has a devastating effect on family, friends and people in the community at large. I commend the Woman's Christian Temperance Union on their 126th anniversary and long may they continue to exist.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (12:14): I rise to support this motion. As members in this chamber will know, it has been on the Notice Paper for quite some time, so I am very pleased that the member for Florey had the foresight to bring the motion forward today, seeing as South Australia has just had the pleasure of hosting the 39th World Convention of the World Woman's Christian Temperance Union, entitled 'Our Hope, Our Vision: A Drug-free World', which was held at the Stamford Grand Hotel.

The member for Florey, along with some support from the President and the Minister for the Status of Women, supported a tea held in the Balcony Room in Parliament House. I understand that the member for Florey looked after 170 delegates from 30 countries all over the world. I would just like to say that it is lucky that the member for Florey has the tenacity that she has, because I think most of us would find 170 militant Woman's Christian Temperance Union members very difficult to deal with.

I understand that the Clerk also assisted with the program, as did the staff from Parliament House and the Florey electorate. Thank you very much for representing us all. A number of us were up in the APY lands, so that will hopefully give you some salve; we would have liked to have been here, but were unable to do so.

The other reason I wanted to speak today is that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union is actually located in the current seat of Ashford, soon to go to West Torrens after the next election. I have had a long association with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, certainly in the early days of being involved in women's organisations, but also more recently, talking about some of the issues that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union see as important.

I think it would be fair to say that although, many years ago, I was offered membership of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, other than being a woman and a trade unionist, there was not a lot that we had in common. So, I really did not feel that I could take up that membership. I am very honoured to have been asked. I must say that, like other speakers, I have really been impressed with the continuous work that they have done, particularly in South Australia.

As is my wont, I have been reading a lot about the early days of white settlement in South Australia, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union really did come to the fore. In fact, we have representation on the women's suffrage tapestry here. There were a number of women being brought out to South Australia—as you know, we are a non-convict settlement—who were working in many of the houses that had been established, and certainly in industry, but had absolutely nowhere to live.

It was really the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that provided the first shelters for women at the start, and then accommodation. Some of the first accommodation for working women (usually housemaids and the like) was provided by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. There were also some big issues, as has been mentioned, with regard to domestic violence, and it was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that actually organised support for people who were being bashed, raped and assaulted in our early community.

While, as I said, these days I probably have some different views on some of the policy issues of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, I certainly absolutely agree with the ongoing work that they have done and the continuous effort they have made to try to make sure that women and children in particular are protected in our community.

I remember reading a book by the late senator Janine Haines about the Woman's Christian Temperance Union with regard to the campaign for suffrage, and they were major organisers in that area. I think we can be very proud that we had the international conference in Adelaide, and I would just like to thank them for all their work and continuing work.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (12:19): I would like to thank the house for allowing the motion to be carried today, and I thank the people who have contributed to the discussion. I also thank the immediate past president of the international WSPU, being Sarah Ward; the delegate from Maryland, Bunny Galladora; the South Australian President, Dawn Giddings; and particularly the New Zealand delegate, Annette Patterson, who was very kind in her remarks. Of course, New Zealand was the first place where women were allowed to vote. She very kindly reminded me that the sisters from New Zealand warned us to go for both franchise and the right to stand, so we are very grateful for their advice and their continuing leadership in so many ways in women's areas, and I commend the motion.

Motion carried.

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