Page 4167 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 December 2022
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So I am happy that the minister has accepted the motion, though with some changes, which we agreed to, and has agreed to report back—and so will be our community. I look forward to hearing back and reading the report in February of next year, and I know that the Canberra Liberals will be supporting Mr Gentleman’s amendments.
Amendment agreed to.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Valedictory
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (4.10): As we all know, this year has flown by, and I am proud to say that there is a lot to discuss as we approach the end of the year.
I will begin with what is easily the most significant and time-intensive project that my team and I have undertaken this year—the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill 2022. This work started with my fellow Yerrabi resident and friend, Pradeep Sornaraj, who first raised the issue with me several years ago, with a unique cultural lens.
Since then, and after releasing an exposure draft of the bill, I have worked with Labor Party members, community members, not-for-profit organisations, workers and their representatives, and my Assembly colleagues to get the bill into the best shape possible before introducing it in the August sitting period. The bill’s success so far is in no small part thanks to their close engagement with the consultation process. Indeed, introducing the bill has afforded me the opportunity to come to know and develop an even stronger working relationship with many of these people.
I would also like to note that Share the Dignity’s unique research and the feedback that they have provided was particularly important for us as we progressed this bill, as was Womens Health Matters and their input. I am very grateful to have maintained ongoing collaborative relationships with all of these incredible organisations and knowing that so many people are working towards ending period poverty.
Something I would also like to speak about is Share the Dignity’s Global Period Poverty Forum. The forum was in Brisbane on 10 October this year, and mobilised change-makers from across the globe to come together and share their perspective on ending period poverty. I was privileged to have been asked to speak at the forum about my experience here in the ACT, working on the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill. It is my hope that this knowledge-sharing event will serve those fighting period poverty in other jurisdictions, and sectors, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.
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