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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-22 Daily Xml
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about International Women's Day.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Each year on 8 March, women in Australia and around the world celebrate International Women's Day . International Women's Day is an occasion to reflect on how far women have come in their struggle for equality and to join with others in celebrating women's achievements. It is also an occasion to reflect on those places in the world where women do not yet enjoy the freedom and equality that women in Australia have fought for and won. Will the minister advise the chamber of upcoming International Women's Day events?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Not only is International Women's Day an important day to think about the achievements of women, it is also an opportunity to look to the future and to the work that still needs to be done to ensure that future generations of women have the opportunity to contribute fully to our community.

The year 2011 marks the centenary of this most important day, and a range of events have been planned in Adelaide and right throughout the state. The Adelaide UN Women breakfast, held annually on 8 March since 1992, has been a longstanding IWD tradition. Previously known as the UNIFEM breakfast, this year the event reflects the new entity, which is UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equity and the Empowerment of Women, created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda. 'Snappy title' I hear you say, Mr President.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Where do they get this from? The breakfast is hosted by Senator Penny Wong, and this year's guest speaker is Professor Tanya Monro. Tanya is Director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing at the University of Adelaide. She is South Australia's Australian of the Year for 2011 and was the South Australian finalist in the national Australian of the Year Awards. She was also South Australia's Scientist of the Year in 2010 and a category winner in the 2010 Telstra Business Women's Awards. I am pleased to advise members that funds raised from the breakfast will go toward UN Women's democratic governance programs, which focus on advancing women's leadership and political participation.

The next day, Wednesday 9 March, the IWD luncheon will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This annual event is organised by the IWD Committee of South Australia, which was formed in 1938 so, a very proud history. A range of community awards will be presented at that lunch. I am very pleased to be associated with this event. It recognises the outstanding contribution of women to their local communities.

To further celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day, I was very pleased to be told that the newly formed National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Alliance will honour 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have achieved change over the past 100 years. Nomination forms have been distributed nationally, and the photographs of the 100 women selected will be portrayed on a poster to be officially launched on Tuesday 8 March in Canberra. The Office for Women will collaborate with the alliance to launch the poster in Adelaide on Thursday 10 March by coordinating a public event in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Not everything happens in the city, of course. International Women's Day events are held throughout regional South Australia. These include a celebration—and I want to recognise the Gawler International Women's Day Committee for their work—on Sunday 27 February. I was very pleased to provide financial support for this event, which will include a debate and a keynote address from award winning cheese maker and owner of Udder Delights, Sheree Sullivan. The event will build on the success of last year's event by continuing to involve young women from the community.

A number of other regional events include the UN Australia dinner to be held in the Riverland, the IWD brunch to be held at Port Lincoln, an event to be held in Coober Pedy, and many others. Details of these events will be available on the Office for Women's website. I highly recommend that you mark Tuesday 8 March, International Women's Day, in your diary and get involved in the celebrations taking place in your communities.

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