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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Thursday, 4 March 2004) . . Page.. 770 ..

in well-paid positions and enjoy a decent standard of living. There are, however, still women who do not have financial security, who struggle to balance family and work responsibilities and receive limited recognition for their contribution to the community.

Women in Canberra are more likely than men to experience poverty and, according to the ABS, are five times more likely to be lone parents. According to ABS figures, in May 2003 the average weekly earnings of Canberra women were almost $203 below those of their male colleagues—or 82 per cent of average male weekly earnings. This is despite being among the most highly educated in the country.

The percentage of women with post-school qualifications is still below that of men. While women’s life expectancy is higher than that of men’s, participation in sport and physical activity is still lower. It is not surprising that women in Canberra, Australia and across the world form the majority of victims of sexual assault and that many of us still feel unsafe when alone at night. The picture is clear and work remains to be done. That is why International Women’s Day is so important. It provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the important role of women in our community and recognise their achievements. It is also a day on which women come together to recognise the past and work together towards the future.

I agree with Mrs Dunne’s point about attending breakfasts and lunches. I also find breakfasts and lunches difficult to attend; however, we have to look at those breakfasts and lunches as much more than just somewhere to eat. Women can gather at these events and plan for the future. There is usually a process provided for donations to women’s organisations which work overseas to assist women to enjoy some of the conditions that we enjoy here in Canberra.

International Women’s Day in Canberra is much more than breakfasts and lunches; there are many events around this special day. ‘Splash Out’ is returning to the Civic pool this year and many women’s organisations arrange their own celebrations. This is an important day when women need to be recognised for all the work they do in their communities, families, schools and workplaces day in and day out every year.

Many women donate to campaigns overseas to assist women. These donations are primarily around education, workplace and domestic violence and for the provision of places where women can feel safe. As a member of a union, my union donates to overseas campaigns to support women. So I think International Women’s Day is important in the sense of recognising things that are done day in and day out to support women collectively around the world.

In relation to the International Women’s Day awards—I will be announcing the winners on Monday—more must be done to encourage a greater number of nominations from women doing a variety of things in our community. One of Mrs Dunne’s points last year was that she was concerned that it was not necessarily the women making the lunches, working at canteens and supporting their families who get recognised through the awards process. I think that is a valid point. I am looking at ways to increase the education around these awards so more women are nominated. In the end the women who get the awards are those who have been chosen through a panel process, and must have been nominated by someone in the first place.

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