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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Tuesday, 9 March 2004) . . Page.. 934 ..

to the attention of the federal government and other governments across Australia. I was proud to be one of the co-sponsors of a motion on this matter at the Liberal convention in June last year. That motion raised interest and was widely supported. I think it was the first time that many people in that room had actively addressed the issue. I know that raising this very important issue at federal council had a big impact on members up on the hill, their staff and rank and file members of the Liberal Party across the country. I am proud to have been a participant in that and I thank my Liberal women colleagues in the ACT for their contribution.

International Women’s Day

MS DUNDAS (5.26): Mr Speaker, I welcome the contribution that Mrs Dunne has made to addressing the practice of trafficking of women. She has just implied that breakfasts and lunches organised for International Women’s Day were posh events held in upmarket places. I would like to inform the chamber about some of the events that were held to mark International Women’s Day. I attended a breakfast and a lunch that were supported and run by UNIFEM. To quote directly from the flyer for these functions:

All funds raised from this event will support UNIFEM Australia’s Pacific project. Workshops will be held at district levels in Fiji, Bougainville, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands to strengthen the knowledge and understanding of women leaders, and potential leaders, in conflict resolution and early warning, voter education, the constitution, legislation of policy making.

Many countries in the region have been devastated by political instability and conflict and or economic and environmental difficulties. UNIFEM’s social and economic development and leadership programs, for women are significant and are making a difference. South Pacific countries are important members for Australia and UNIFEM Australia works to ensure that Government aid funding is inclusive and targeting of programs for women.

Whilst that lunch was held at the Press Club, the money raised is going to help women who are struggling on the ground in countries around the globe. One of the important things about IWD is that we think about all the different ways that we, as women, can help women in other countries. I was proud to participate in so many events for IWD this year. We saw the continuation and initiation of great programs which are designed to help women in countries where they have nothing.

Trees

MR CORNWELL (5.28): Mr Speaker, I rise briefly to speak on the subject of trees—or a tree, in fact. I want to refer to a letter that I wrote to the Chief Minister on 28 October last year about the removal of a gum tree in the suburb of Duffy. I am not going to mention the names of my constituents, save to say that they live in an area that was badly damaged in the fire. It would not be unreasonable to say that they are rather traumatised by the existence of a tree in their front garden and they would like to have it removed.

The matter has progressed—I have, I suppose, half an inch worth of correspondence. As I said, I wrote to Mr Stanhope on 28 October. I did not receive a reply, so I came back to him on 5 January. Mr Stanhope responded to me on 16 January this year, saying, “I am

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