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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-29 Daily Xml
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STATE ABORIGINAL WOMEN'S GATHERING

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the State Aboriginal Women's Gathering.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Every year the Office for Women coordinates a State Aboriginal Women's Gathering. Can the minister tell the chamber about some of the speakers taking part in this year's gathering?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and her ongoing interest in these very important policy areas. This year's Aboriginal Women's Gathering features a range of very impressive speakers, as well as once again affording the opportunity for Aboriginal women to come together to discuss key issues.

As members may recall, the State Aboriginal Women's Gathering (SAWG) is held each year over three days. This year's event is being held from today (29 November) to 1 December, and the theme of this year's event is 'Strong Cultures Inspire Strong Futures'. The gathering celebrates the diversity and strength of Aboriginal women and importantly allows Aboriginal women voices to be heard. The gathering is a great space in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can talk about issues that affect them, their lives and their families.

Participants at the gathering include delegates from communities in remote, regional and metropolitan areas of South Australia. The keynote speaker at this year's gathering is Deputy Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Andrea Durbach, who will highlight the inspirational story of a group of Kimberley women who successfully tackled alcohol abuse in their community, and she will talk about the innovative alcohol management strategies the women used to rebuild the remote Western Australian community of Fitzroy Valley.

As members might appreciate, having the commission involved in this year's gathering is a wonderful signal that South Australia's women's gathering is considered to be quite a significant event and holds a great deal of status. Ms Durbach has been involved in conciliation issues and facilitating assistance with the stolen generation, and I believe that she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to SAWG 2011.

Another notable speaker at this year's gathering will be the well-known Aboriginal rights advocate and anthropologist Professor Marcia Langton. I understand that Professor Langton will discuss the implications of the recognition of Aboriginal people in the Australian constitution. As members may be aware, Professor Langton is on the panel of Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and she has held the foundation chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne since February 2000.

This year's theme builds on the focus of previous years, that is, developing leadership and governance in Aboriginal communities, with delegates getting an update from the National Aboriginal and Torres Islander Women's Alliance and also the National Congress of Australia's First People. Promoting the leadership of Aboriginal women is also a focus nationally with the recent Select Council on Women's Issues listing it as a priority issue.

Developing strong leadership capabilities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and encouraging organisational change to facilitate more Indigenous women in leadership positions are obviously vital steps in closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Through the select council, ministers will explore a variety of ways to promote the leadership of Aboriginal women and will consult with Aboriginal women on successful leadership initiatives. I am sure that delegates will find this year's gathering an interesting and rewarding one, and I certainly wish them all the best.

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