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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 955 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

However, I must add that recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show good results for average weekly earnings in the ACT, especially for women. These figures show that during the November quarter ACT employees brought home an average of $766.10 weekly, $116 above the national average. ACT women brought home an average $654.30 weekly, $137 above the national average. That is still, of course, below the men, but at least, on that evidence, gaining somewhat.

Average weekly earnings for women in the ACT increased by 10.8 per cent in the 12 months to November 2000, compared to an increase of 8.7 per cent for ACT men and a 6.7 per cent increase for women nationally. These figures confirm that the ACT has experienced higher wage growth for female employees than any other state or territory.

The Fourth ACT Women's Consultative Council continues to play a key role in assisting the government to develop and implement policies to advance the status of women in the ACT. It is a link between women in the ACT and the government. I would particularly like to commend the excellent work of the council's Young Women's Forum which is bringing together the views of a diverse group of young women and providing a voice for them to actively contribute issues to government.

One way in which the government recognises the work of women in our community is through the ACT women's awards. It was my great pleasure to present this year's awards to five women on International Women's Day a couple of weeks ago. The awards have been made every year since 1995 on International Women's Day to publicly acknowledge women's contribution to community life. There has been a total of 21 women receiving the awards. They have made a range of contributions which are highly valued by all of those who know and work with them-a wonderful example of how women contribute to building what I would call the social capital of the ACT.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make particular mention of a very important occasion to be held in Canberra next month. I will be hosting the Commonwealth, State and Territory Conference of Ministers for the Status of Women on 27 April. It will be a great pleasure for me to welcome ministers from the Commonwealth, the states, the Northern Territory and New Zealand to this conference where critical issues concerning women at the national and regional level will be discussed, even in spite of the irony of that body being chaired by a man.

It is very appropriate in conclusion to highlight women's contribution to our community. It is also important to emphasise the government's continuing commitment to working in partnership with women. We recognise that women continue to have much to offer the ACT and that they have been doing so in many different ways since the establishment of Canberra as the nation's capital.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I present the following paper:

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