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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Thursday, 4 March 2004) . . Page.. 767 ..

doing and whether we are moving with the times. We must ensure that we retain the essentials of good governance whilst keeping a balanced approach.

Women can and do offer a unique blend of caring, compassion, commonsense and practical acumen to a job that is often very male dominated. As has already been said, this is not about men versus women but, rather, it is about men and women. I do not believe that women necessarily make better politicians than men, or vice versa. But I believe women can ensure that they bring a much-needed balance to the debate.

As Ms MacDonald and I have said, we in this Assembly are fortunate to have the highest proportion of female representatives anywhere in Australia, and we should not forget the work of the early suffragettes who paved the way for women. Whilst there is much more to do in that regard, women should forget about the so-called glass ceiling and be prepared to stand up for themselves. Women need to believe in themselves and their own unique abilities, and remain focused on the reason for their involvement in whatever they are doing.

Many excellent high-calibre women have championed the cause and in so doing have paved the way for other women in the political arena. Women such as Margaret Thatcher, Joan Kirner and Betty Boothroyd, to name but a few, have shown that extraordinary things can be achieved by ordinary people willing to get up and have a go. Women need to be confident that they can and do achieve positions on boards, in politics or wherever, because of their merits.

Women have much to offer at every level. Women must seize an opportunity when one presents itself. Many opportunities in life are about timing. In having their say women are not usually backward in coming forward. Women must identify their resources, willpower and determination. Whatever we do must ultimately be for the good of others and not only for ourselves. Indeed the task is to bring something into the community and not take from it. I will be joining with other women from this place to celebrate International Women’s Day on Monday 8 March 2004.

MS DUNDAS (4.14): I thank Ms MacDonald for again drawing the Assembly’s attention to this matter of public importance—the importance of recognising the contribution women make to our society. I was just musing on that choice of words. Of course women are important to our society. Our society would cease to exist without women taking part in it.

I would like to use this International Women’s Day speech to reflect on women, their role in community organisations, their role as grassroots organisers and the impact that makes on the agenda of society. I will be referring extensively to a report entitled, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is! The Need for Public Investment in Women’s Organisations by Siobhan Riordan, which is quoted in a publication from Oxfam entitled Gender in the 21st Century.

Ms Riordan talks about the difference in agendas between women in the community and political and economic leaders who control resources and determine the priorities of public policy. She draws on the example of peace-building efforts in Northern Ireland, Israel and Bosnia. Research has uncovered the fact that women have created grassroots organisations that were valid peace-building organisations. They have provided

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