Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 1594 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

feminist movement in Australia over the last 20 or 30 years. She was also a very significant player. She was part of the intellectual force that characterises feminism. In the debate on equality in Australia she was not just concerned with gender equity; she was very much concerned with race equity and equity within society and the community generally.

At some stages in my Public Service career I had an opportunity to work with Dr Burton. When the Federal Parliament undertook work on the equality of women in Australia and a major report was prepared and developed by the House of Representatives, I had first-hand knowledge of the significant role which Dr Burton played in the yet to be concluded move for genuine equality by women and other sectors of the Australian community. Dr Burton's death was unexpected - it was certainly untimely - and I join with the Chief Minister in expressing our deep sympathy and condolences to all those people that Dr Burton worked with over the years, the women of Australia and particularly Dr Burton's family.

MS TUCKER: I also extend sympathy to Dr Clare Burton's family and express regret at her death. Obviously Dr Clare Burton was an incredibly important person for women in Australia. I believe many of the battles that we thought we had won are just beginning all over again, particularly in the employment sector, with the increasing casualisation of the work force - of course, it is often women who experience that casualisation most - and the increase in part-time work.

While Dr Burton was always clear on the need for choice for women - it may well be the case that women choose to have part-time work - it is totally unjust and inequitable if that choice is not there and basically they get the scraps of employment in the form of casualised work or part-time work. We need to be very conscious of the issues that Dr Burton raised and we need to keep vigilant as a society to ensure that we do not regress even further.

Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (10.40): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to the report of the Select Committee on Estimates 1998-99 on the Appropriation Bill 1998-99 which was presented to the Assembly on 27 August 1998. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, while I would like to thank the committee for its examination of the Government's budget estimates for 1998-99, I have to express the Government's disappointment with the report. It is financially irresponsible. Mr Speaker, I will not respond to the recommendations in this tabling statement. It is a long report and obviously it would take too long. They are outlined in the response.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .