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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-11-19 Daily Xml
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WHITE RIBBON DAY

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the White Ribbon Day campaign for 2009.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: In 1991, on the second anniversary of the massacre of 14 women engineering students in Montreal, a handful of Canadian men started a campaign that has become known as White Ribbon Day. From the start, the idea has been for men to take positive action to end violence against women. The United Nations has since declared 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is known as White Ribbon Day after the white ribbon was adopted as a symbol for the campaign. Will the minister explain the significance of White Ribbon Day and outline any activities planned on this day in South Australia?

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 Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and note that, indeed, the Hon. Russell Wortley is one of our White Ribbon ambassadors, as well as other members whom I will acknowledge shortly. I note that on 25 November White Ribbon Day marks the beginning of 16 days of the Activism Against Gender Violence campaign, which ends on 1 December, the United Nations Human Rights Day. Today, the White Ribbon Foundation heads up the White Ribbon campaign in Australia. The chair of the foundation is someone many people know from the popular television show Deal or No Deal and Sunday Sunrise, Andrew O'Keefe.

As the Minister for the Status of Women, I have had the pleasure of working with the foundation, which shares the government's commitment to working to develop a culture of equity and respect, where attitudes and behaviours that support the use of violence are no longer tolerated. As part of this year's White Ribbon Day campaign, South Australia is hosting a 'Men in the Mall' event from 12 noon to 2pm on 25 November in Rundle Mall opposite Stephens Place. You are all welcome—men and women. A range of activities will be taking place, and I encourage you to attend with friends and colleagues, and to promote this event in the community and through your networks. Entertainment will be provided, and this year much of it will have a youth focus to encourage more young men to take part and be involved.

The event will be facilitated by current White Ribbon Day ambassadors, who will be handing out ribbons, wristbands and tattoos, and encouraging men to swear never to commit, excuse or stay silent about violence against women. This initiative, called the My Oath campaign, was launched by the Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, in September 2009. By taking this oath, men can make a powerful statement and take a stand against violence against women. The oath can also be taken online at www.myoath.com.au. The foundation's aim is to get one million men to 'swear' by White Ribbon Day 2009.

White Ribbon Day ambassadors play a very important role and are critical to the success of the campaign. Ambassadors are highly respected men who are willing to take a stand and be positive role models to other men in the community, whatever their sector, background, age or belief may be. Ambassadors support the campaign in many ways, big and small, including wearing a white ribbon or wristband in the lead-up to White Ribbon Day and encouraging others to do the same; and sharing a White Ribbon message with local communities, particularly in rural and regional areas where White Ribbon might not otherwise have a presence.

I am advised that a range of activities are taking place throughout the state to mark White Ribbon Day. They include a community launch organised by Nunga Men's Group at the Noarlunga Village and the Truckies Stop Coffee Break organised by the Adelaide Hills and Murraylands Domestic Violence and Homelessness Service at Tailem Bend. Ambassadors in regional areas are taking the lead by organising events such as Australia's Loudest Shout, in which men and boys get together to shout 'No' to violence against women. This shout is measured in decibels, and this year Mount Gambier is challenging communities around Australia to beat their record.

Since last year's successful event, I have been working to increase the number and diversity of White Ribbon Day ambassadors, and am pleased to say that we now have over 100 prominent community figures on our list. Our new ambassadors include: yes, Hon. Patrick Conlon; the Most Reverend Philip Wilson; Monsignor David Cappo; Michael Harbison, Lord Mayor; Euan Ferguson; Eric Filmer, Director of Scott's Transport; Brigadier Stephen Smith; Oliver Braes; and Mark Haysman, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Port Adelaide Football Club. I am also very pleased to acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues who are among the current ambassadors: the Hons Mike Rann, Michael Atkinson, Robert Brokenshire, John Darley, John Dawkins, John Gazzola, Ian Hunter, Mark Parnell, Stephen Wade, Jay Weatherill and Russell Wortley; and Nick Champion and Steve Georganas.

As there is an increasing focus on involving younger men, I am particularly pleased that we have the support of the Ambassador for Youth Opportunity, Gavin Wanganeen, and Julian 'Jules' Schiller from Nova 919, who will emcee the mall event. I encourage all members to support the white ribbon campaign, as it is important that we work together to prevent violence against women and that men take the lead in their immediate communities through their networks by speaking out about violence and challenging the attitudes that allow violence and abuse to exist in our society.

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