International Day of Rural Women

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:59): My question is to the Minister for the Status of Women. Will the minister update the council about the United Nations International Day of Rural Women and how this government is implementing initiatives to support women in agribusiness?

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) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his question. Today is 15 October, which is the United Nations International Day of Rural Women. This international day, established by the General Assembly on 18 December 2007, recognises the critical role and contribution of rural women, including Indigenous women, in enhancing agriculture and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

The contributions of rural women are immense. However, limited access to credit, health care and things like education are among the many challenges they face, which are further aggravated by the global food and economic crisis and climate change. Empowering them is key, not only to the wellbeing of individuals, families and rural communities, but also to overall economic productivity, given women's large presence in the agricultural workforce worldwide.

I am very pleased to belong to a government that is committed to women, and on 2 September this year I had the pleasure of launching the agribusiness sector's Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Strategy, and I acknowledge the support shown for this strategy by my parliamentary colleague, the Hon. Michelle Lensink, who was also at the event. I am sure she shares a similar view as me in terms of being incredibly impressed with what these women have accomplished. The strategy has been developed through a partnership between women in industry—

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: I'm impressed too; my wife's one of them.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Was she there?

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: Well, she's a committed, hard working farmer.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Sorry, I thought she was actually at the event—no, she wasn't. The strategy was developed through a partnership between women in industry, community and Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and raises awareness of the important role women play in agribusiness and our regions.

Little more than 100 years ago, in drawing up census categories, farmers' wives were specifically excluded from being counted as being engaged in agriculture. We know that the contribution women make to agriculture is not simply measured by statistical numbers, which show that men make up 72 per cent of farmers in Australia. They are often the businesswomen, leaders and innovators who manage the world's natural resources and nurture the families and communities of our regional areas. I know from my own experience as a former minister for agriculture, food and fisheries just how comprehensively women fill those roles. I saw it in many of the woman I met as minister, and from what I learned of their own circumstances, and I can certainly appreciate the motivations behind the women who initiated and joined the strategy.

It is important that we acknowledge and recognise the contribution of women right across agribusiness and right along the value chain. The Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Strategy, and the clear enthusiasm with which the strategy is being embraced, are hard evidence that there is a powerful mood for change. It provides encouragement for women to think about entering a career in agriculture, as well as ensuring that women already in the industry have opportunity to develop. Having a strategy that coordinates programs and skills training is incredibly important to enabling women to make educated choices regarding their career and what is offering.

I congratulate SARDI as well, and its partners, for the initiative. It is a deeply fitting project to undertake, particularly on the 120^th anniversary of women's suffrage in South Australia. The Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Strategy is a fabulous initiative and has deep links with the community, which would generate momentum and I believe will be a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations to all those women and men who have been instrumental in addressing gender inequity by raising awareness of the important role women play in agribusiness in regions.