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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 954 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

In the complex and challenging field of corrective services, an intersectoral expert reference group on women's issues has been established. This group of government and non-government representatives is meeting regularly to develop and provide policy advice to government about issues for women across the corrective services sector.

The Women's Action Plan is a dynamic document and it will be reviewed and updated to include new and emerging issues for ACT women for the next two to three years. We will continue to consult with women in that process to ensure that all government policy addresses gender issues as well as the diversity of women's needs at different times in their lives.

In January, Mr Deputy Speaker, as a component of the new directions for the ACT public service, I announced the creation of a dedicated Women's Policy Unit in the Chief Minister's Department. This will help ensure that women's issues are addressed in the development of all government policies. It will also provide an enhanced profile for the current work being done on women's issues and make better use of the available resources as well as be a specific point of access for women in the community.

This year we celebrate the centenary of federation and the beginning of the second century of nationhood. It is timely to reflect on the remarkable achievements of the citizens of our city, a city created by federation. Our history is unique. It includes that of the indigenous people of the region, the early pastoral settlers and the establishment of the national capital. The development of our city has benefited from women's active participation in civic, community and cultural life, and their contribution to the development of Canberra as a vibrant and dynamic city.

As part of the centenary of federation celebrations, the "Future Canberra-a Celebration of Community" exhibition in May this year will include a major component about women. It will celebrate and acknowledge women's contributions to the development and planning of Canberra through the themes of planning, arriving, settling, providing, representing and looking to the future.

As we know from the Demographic and Social Profile of Women in the ACT which this government released last year, Canberra women are, on average, better off than women nationally in a whole range of areas including paid employment, income, health status, education levels and participation in sport and cultural activities. Of course, this does not mean that all women and girls are doing so well. An important policy focus of the Women's Action Plan relates to a range of access and safety issues for women in public housing. This was raised in the December 2000 report from the Poverty Task Group which also highlighted that many single parents, the majority of whom are women, are at risk of living in poverty.

Another emerging area that we need to pay attention to is the increasing reliance on new information technologies in our everyday lives. We must ensure that women have the same access and opportunities to that technology, particularly older women and those who have English as a second language.

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