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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-04-03 Daily Xml
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about International Women's Day 2012.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: International Women's Day is held on 8 March each year to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution women make to the community. Will the minister tell the chamber more about this year's International Women's Day?

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) (15:24): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. A diverse range of organisations and individuals across metropolitan and regional South Australia develops events to acknowledge the achievements of women.

As members would probably recall, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. There were a number of events that I was able to participate in this year. I had the pleasure of speaking at the Inspirational Women lunch, co-hosted by the Department of Treasury and Finance's Women in Treasury and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure's women in leadership group, on 8 March 2012.

This popular event was attended by women from both departments and was emceed by Ms Sandy Pitcher, the Deputy Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet and former director of the Office for Women. The other speakers at the event included Ms Trudi Meakins, Executive Director Policy Planning and Programs Division in the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure; and Ms Fran Solly, Director People and Culture, Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. I commend the organisers of this event and I am pleased to see that women's leadership remains a priority for these departments.

The International Women's Day Collective march and rally is a tradition that has been a constant on the International Women's Day calendar. This year's march was held on the evening of 8 March. The march began at 5pm at the UniSA West Campus and progressed down North Terrace to Parliament House and then to the State Library where there were a barbecue and performances. I also had the pleasure of speaking at this event. I am particularly pleased that a number of different organisations were involved in this event, making it very inclusive for women in all their diversity.

The Gladys Elphick Awards Committee announced the opening of nominations for their community spirit award acknowledging Aboriginal women. The Barbara Polkinghorne Award for Literature was also presented at the march. The collective includes representatives from the women's sector including SA Unions, Working Women's Centre, South Australian Feminist Collective, YWCA and the Gladys Elphick Awards Committee.

The International Women's Day Luncheon organised by the International Women's Day Committee SA was again held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Thursday 8 March. I understand that a panel discussion on 'Gender Equity in 2025' was the focus of the lunch, with the Hon. Robyn Layton QC, Patron of the IWD Committee, giving the keynote address.

The UN Women International Women's Day Breakfast was again hosted by Senator Penny Wong and that was held on Friday 9 March at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This year's guest speaker was Melbourne writer, lawyer and teacher Alice Pung. I attended the breakfast and had the pleasure of hearing Alice speak. It was an incredibly moving address, and I know that a number of my parliamentary colleagues here attended as well and I know that they would have been moved by Alice's story.

Finally, I would like to tell members about another IWD event which I was pleased to attend—the IWD event at Coober Pedy on Friday 23 March. The event was held at the Umoona Aged Care Facility and was attended by residents and Aboriginal women from the area as well as service providers. Lyn Breuer, member for Giles, spoke about the achievements of women in Coober Pedy and the Umoona Aged Care Facility at the event. Lyn had just been privileged that same morning to receive her Aboriginal name in a very special ceremony before the IWD event.

The previous evening the facility had launched a DVD about the service and its history. The facility is based and designed on a traditional camp site design, which had the elders' input at all levels from the site selection to completion, considering in detail their wishes and needs along with the overall practical workable design. I think it was a real honour and tribute to Lyn Breuer. We are not aware of any other woman member of parliament who has ever been given this honour by traditional women. I know that it is in recognition of her very hard work in that community and recognition of the way she is respected by the Aboriginal community, the women's community there and the community in general. I congratulate Lyn Breuer for that. I was also able to distribute nomination forms for the Gladys Elphick Awards when I was in Coober Pedy.

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