Page 2005 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2022
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I want to highlight that in the Assembly and pay tribute, of course, to Marluce Silva Peters and the team at Doris Women’s Refuge, who have worked for decades to provide women and children with much-needed support, wraparound support, and somewhere safe that they can go to.
I think we all know what a tragic and traumatic situation it would be to leave a very violent relationship, but there are particular challenges for migrant women. We are talking about women who, in some instances, have been almost completely reliant on their partners. We are talking about women who may be reliant on their partners for their legal ability to stay in Australia. We are talking about women who have children who are Australian born and need support. It is very difficult and very disappointing.
I reached out to Minister Yvette Berry as soon as I heard that the Kim Ransa Safe House might close. I understand that the government has responded. Whilst I acknowledge that there is a lot that is being done in this space to ensure that those services are there, it is incredibly disappointing and heartbreaking to hear that Kim Ransa Safe House itself will close. While there are other services around, the Kim Ransa Safe House provided much-needed support for that particularly vulnerable cohort of women and children. I sincerely hope that we can all work together to find some solution.
Kim Ransa Safe House was named after a notable woman in Korea’s history—the first woman to be educated overseas who, through great adversity, was able to be a strength, a role model, for women in Korea. It was a very patriarchal society until recent times. I was given the honour of naming that place because there was a very special connection to our CALD community here in Canberra. I would dearly love to see that legacy continue, because it is a tribute to the very hardworking women at Doris Women’s Refuge. I take my hat off to them. I certainly hope that we can find a solution.
Architecture—2022 ACT Architecture Awards
MS VASSAROTTI (Kurrajong—Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services and Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction) (5.35): I rise today to acknowledge an exciting celebration that was held last week, when the ACT chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects celebrated its annual awards. Chapters across Australia conduct these awards. I know that the ACT is proud to be the first jurisdiction to hold these awards each year. This is one awards process that I am very glad that I do not have to adjudicate. While we are often focused on some of the challenges around building quality, it is important to remember and celebrate the examples of great architecture that we have in this city.
This awards ceremony had an absolute star. I was delighted to announce that the pre-eminent award, the Canberra Medallion, went to the ANU Birch Building, refurbishment by Hassell. This was, in the words of the judges’ panel, “a thoughtful reinterpretation of the 1968 heritage-listed building that celebrates its past and transforms it into a best practice building that supports contemporary education and
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