Anna Stewart Memorial Project

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:53): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question regarding the Anna Stewart Memorial Project.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: The Anna Stewart Memorial Project commenced in Victoria in 1984 to commemorate the achievements of Anna Stewart, a former journalist and Victorian trade union official, who worked tirelessly and passionately towards pay equality and improved working conditions for women. The program is held annually by SA Unions, and I can say that when I was a union official I had the pleasure and privilege of mentoring a number of young women who spent a week in our office. My question is: can the minister inform us about this year's program?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his most important question, and the commitment of his former union—and his current union, I imagine he is still a member—to supporting that program and women in their union.

I have been hosting the Anna Stewart Memorial Project for a number of years now, and it is a great pleasure for me to do that because it is a wonderful program that I have been associated with for many years. I cannot believe that I actually first participated in the project in 1988. It was the second Anna Stewart Memorial Project to be run in South Australia and I was actually a participant at that time. I was a nurse at the time and a workplace rep, or workplace delegate, and keen to know more about my union. Of course, now I have the opportunity to provide support to the program as Minister for the Status of Women, which is indeed a great honour, and as a member of the Legislative Council.

The Anna Stewart Memorial Project recognises and honours a remarkable woman who achieved many rights and entitlements for working women. Anna Stewart joined the union movement in 1974. Coincidentally, that was the same year as International Women's Day was first officially recognised by the Australian government. At that time, women had very few workplace entitlements, particularly in industries where there were few women in positions of power. She worked in a blue collar union.

Anna was instrumental in securing many of the conditions that we now enjoy and take for granted, like paid parental leave and childcare facilities for, particularly, blue collar workers. She was also integral in increasing women's involvement in the union movement, a place that even today is still, unfortunately, male dominated in many areas. Tragically, Anna passed away in 1983 at the age of 35, but the Anna Stewart Memorial Project continues to honour her in the best possible way.

The program is designed specifically to give women an insight into how unions operate and how women can be more active in their union. As part of the program, a group of women union members are placed in different unions for a two-week experience. During this time participants see how the union is organised and its relationship to other unions. Participants can become involved in issues which are important to members in union offices and meetings, officials, other unions and, of course, SA Unions.

I was very pleased to be invited to speak to this year's participants and enjoy lunch with them here at Parliament House. As a former participant of the project I was able to convey my own work experiences with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and reflect on how my union principles have guided me through my career. I informed participants about my role as the Minister for the Status of Women and how, as a member of the state Labor government, my role allows me to ensure that the rights and needs of women are recognised. I was able to discuss my passion for ensuring that women are given the opportunity to act as leaders in the workplace, in their communities, boardrooms and in all aspects of life.

I truly believe that it is through that collective action, unity of purpose and strong support networks that gender equity in our society is achievable. There are 17 women, this year, participating in this great program and I certainly wish all of them every success in their future endeavours. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to continue my longstanding association with the project. I have no doubt that this year's participants, like many other women before them, will use their experiences from the program to become aspiring leaders in the union movement, their professions and their personal lives.