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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-05-15 Daily Xml
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Office for Men

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:51): It is not surprising that close to 97 per cent of all workplace deaths are men. Men are more likely to work in essential labour employment that carries greater workplace risk. They work as road and rail drivers, fishermen, farmers, labourers, forestry workers, construction and mining machinery operators, and protective services such as firefighting, police and security.

We have an Office for Women but it is men who are more likely to face extreme challenges, yet the government refuses to fund a minister for men or an office for men. Our society has long expected men to go to war, be the main breadwinners, take on high pressure professions, be away from their children and never complain. I continue to advocate for creating an office and minister for men, mirroring the already established system for women.

The Office for Women is pivotal in empowering South Australian women, fostering gender equity and shaping policies via the Premier's Council for Women. This is done in collaboration with the Minister for Women, assimilating women's perspectives and gender equality into government policymaking. It is commendable. However, there is a distinct lack of transparency when it comes to deciphering how the funding is allocated for the Office for Women.

The glaring absence of an equivalent framework for men is both noticeable and unacceptable. The need for an office for men and a minister for men is palpable. Australian men live on average four years less than their female counterparts and have fewer healthy years of life compared with women. Three-quarters of Australian suicide victims are men, with many refraining from seeking help due to societal stigma, cost, or fear of being perceived as weak.

Men, although less recognised, can also be victims of domestic violence. Studies indicate that one in three men are victims of family violence and abuse in Australia. Yet funding often overlooks male victims, as seen in the 2022-23 federal budget when $1.7 billion was allocated to address gender-based violence, yet the budget failed to recognise male domestic violence victims. Men face significant risks at work. As I mentioned before, data reveals that 97 per cent of workplace deaths in Australia involve men and they account for over 64 per cent of serious injury claims.

Men are especially vulnerable on our roads, with 70 per cent of car crash fatalities in South Australia being male. Men are more prone to substance abuse, partly reflected in these car crash fatality statistics, and yet over the last eight years the National Health and Medical Research Council invested five times more funding in women's health compared with men's health: $707.9 million and $148.2 million respectively.

Overall, women's health received seven and a half times more investment than men's health: $1.1 billion compared with less than $150 million. The National Women's Health Strategy, launched by the federal government in April 2019, received three times more than the National Men's Health Strategy: $52.2 million and $17.9 million respectively. In May 2021, the National Women's Health Strategy received $535.8 million, while the National Men's Health Strategy received no funding.

Disparities between men and women are significant when considering men are more likely to be homeless, have higher levels of loneliness and suicide, and boys often have poorer educational outcomes. The message that boys are receiving from elements of Western society about being a man or manhood is becoming increasingly confusing. This is affecting men's personal lives, including how they relate to women, work and society. There seems to be a backlash against masculinity and a sense that there is something toxic about masculinity.

It is important to understand that there is nothing wrong with showing masculinity and there are attributes associated with masculinity that hold great value. However, the confusion around masculinity stems from the word often being associated with toxic male traits. There are biological differences between men and women that express themselves in temperament and occupational choice. Fundamentally, masculinity is the qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men.

Feminists encourage strong female role models, referring to them as positive, encouraging and empowering. In our increasingly woke culture, men who have those same traits are often referred to as exhibiting toxic masculinity. They are being stigmatised because they are men and for no other reason. Establishing an office and minister for men will give Australian men the representation and support they deserve.

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