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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-04-06 Daily Xml
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WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Thank you, sir.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: We know how much you hate unions.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: The local branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was formed in the YWCA rooms in Adelaide on an April afternoon 125 years ago. While the Women's Christian Temperance Union has taken an interest in a number of social reforms, its early days had a particular focus on suffrage. Minister, will you provide the council with a little history of the WCTU and, in particular, its important contribution to suffrage?

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) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for his most important question, and his deep interest in the policy area of temperance, as well as unions. On Monday, I was very pleased to host an event recognising the 125th anniversary of the Women's Christian Temperance Union with my colleagues the Hon. Stephanie Key and Ms Frances Bedford MP, and it was also great to see my colleagues the Hon. Carmel Zollo and the Hon. Michelle Lensink there.

One of the distinguished guests present was Sarah Ward, the WCTU's World President, and it was a real privilege to hear her speak of some of the history of the organisation. I had the pleasure to address the audience as well, and it was interesting to think of the South Australia of 125 years ago, which was obviously a culture that was dominated by men. However, the work of some amazing South Australian women meant that that condition was not to stay in place forever.

Women such as Catherine Helen Spence, Mary Lee and Augusta Zadow all made major contributions in the development of women. However, I took the opportunity to focus on the work of Elizabeth Webb Nicholls, born in Rundle Street in 1850. Elizabeth was a very energetic social reformer, the first state president of the WCTU of South Australia and the first Australian president of the national WCTU.

The WCTU sent me an amazing pamphlet. I did not really know much about them before that, and I read their book and was just astounded. It was quite inspiring, and I was interested to learn that, as a founding member of the Women's Suffrage League, Elizabeth Webb Nicholls campaigned for the right of women to vote. Indeed, the WCTU considers Elizabeth Webb Nicholls to be one of the most important leaders in the successful campaigns which made South Australia the first Australian colony to grant women the right to vote in 1894. She continued her work by lobbying for the right to vote in federal elections and, in 1921, she helped to found the Australian Federation of Women Voters.

As a member of the Women's Non-Party Political Association, Elizabeth was committed to advocating for women jurors, justices of the peace and particularly the rights of women and children. She sought to protect the interests of women and children through campaigning for equal federal marriage and divorce laws, as well as equal pay for equal work, and she did a great deal of campaigning around lifting the status, if you like, of women working in domestic situations. So, as I said, some of the work she did was truly remarkable.

The WCTU has sought to have public acknowledgement of the work of Elizabeth Webb Nicholls in Adelaide. I was delighted to be able to support its goal when I wrote last year to the Lord Mayor, Stephen Yarwood, suggesting the erection of a plaque, or something like that, in the Women's Memorial Garden. I thought that might be a fitting tribute to this amazing woman. I understand that the WCTU has had some discussions with the Adelaide City Council, and I look forward to some form of public recognition being put in place.

As the Minister for the Status of Women, I am obviously committed to acknowledging the work of women such as the suffragettes. These women fought for the rights of women to participate more fully in society, and it is important that each generation remembers and recognises their achievements. If it were not for women such as these, I and my other female colleagues in the chamber today would probably not be elected members. I am very grateful for the work of my forebears. I am very sure that members would agree that 125 years of activism for any particular organisation is a fantastic achievement, and I congratulate members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union on their anniversary.

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