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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-04 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

Workplace Equality and Safety

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:55): I rise to speak about the deep anger and dismay that I feel and that I know is felt by women and other people in light of the happenings here and across Australia. It is anger that kept me and many others awake last night and anger that very strongly gives rise to a shared sentiment that enough is enough.

Over the past few weeks, extraordinarily brave women and those who love and support them have brought to public attention the most harrowing accounts of alleged rape, sexual assault and harassment that have allegedly occurred at the hands of male parliamentarians and political staff—powerful, entitled people who have allegedly caused the most devastating harm.

Parliament House in Canberra, and indeed the house that we sit in here in South Australia, should, like all workplaces, be safe, inclusive and free of discrimination. It is clear from the voices of these courageous women that they are not and it is clear that they are a very long way from being the exemplary standard-setting places of work that they should be. The courage of these women, their voices and their experiences must be a catalyst for enduring action for change—change that is desperately needed and change that we all have a responsibility to make.

Yesterday, in two different cities two very different speeches were given. One gave me hope that we can and will make change and the other elucidated exactly what and who needs to change. The first was given by the extraordinary Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, a leader with such clarity and dignity whose courage is inspiring others who have been sexually abused to raise their voices and who is emphasising the difference that our collective voices can make on the dreadful prevalence of sexual assault.

Grace called out victim blaming, including the horrific comments made by the Chief of the Australian Defence Force about the need for cadets not to make themselves prey to sexual predators whilst being out late at night alone and attractive. How about a message instead to people not to rape? Grace urged everyone to listen and let those who have been abused share their stories on their terms. Grace also sent a clear message to the Prime Minister, a man who has shown no leadership or empathy on the horrific alleged sexual assaults we are learning of, that it should not take having children to have a conscience—grace indeed.

The other speech was from a powerful, privileged man who has not been proven guilty, who does however have an alleged history of inappropriate behaviour towards women, who through his words pulled focus to himself, made himself the victim, discredited a deceased woman whose voice must somehow be heard and listened to, questioned her mental health and claimed that no-one had ever shown him the detailed statement from her, despite the police investigation in relation to the matter now being closed. I know which speech resonated with me.

I have no doubt that many in the Liberal Party hope that our nation moves on and that this is the end of the matter. Until these horrendous issues are inquired into, it will not, nor will it move on from the anger, dismay and shock that it have felt about the alleged rape of staff members in Parliament House in Canberra.

Our state will not suddenly move on from the appalling harassment and abuse we have heard through the Equal Opportunity Commission review into our South Australian parliament. Women and those who support them have had enough. There will not be a moving on until change is made, until women are believed and until we are not seen as lying cows, troublemakers, provokers or people to be moved on for speaking truth and speaking up.

There will not be a moving on until we are not assessed by our appearance, by how much we drink, by where we go or who we see; until women are equally represented in this place and in every parliament, corporate setting, sporting and other organisation; until the culture of cover-up disappears; until we are safe wherever we work, whomever our boss is, whomever we work alongside and whatever our position is; when we are at home, when we are out at night, during the day, at school, in a park, at a shopping centre or wherever; and until those courageous women who have spoken up in the most difficult of circumstances are afforded justice.

I am so sorry for all that those who have been assaulted or abused have gone through. I and I know thousands of others are inspired by their courage and it will drive us to continue to speak for as long as it takes to ensure every single woman and every single girl can live her life free from violence, free from harassment and free from abuse and discrimination.

Time expired.

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