Page 3961 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 September 2017
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I spoke earlier about the impact of social exclusion on our LGBTIQ community, and I would like to close by speaking about an element of social inclusion which is close to my heart—the inclusion of women. Despite our efforts over many decades, women still face greater risks of violence and other forms of abuse. We are still grossly underpaid for our work and still cop the lion’s share of domestic duties.
The ACT government takes gender equality and equity very seriously, and we are proactive in encouraging progress. Already in this term of government we are helping women to reach new heights in the workplace and on the sporting field. We want to see women frame their career goals in terms of what they want to do, not what society has historically told them they should do, and that is why we have committed $1 million over four years to get more women into male-dominated trades and to assist mature-age workers to upskill and to re-skill.
We are also working hard to address the difference in pay, opportunities and public recognition afforded to men’s and women’s sport. The ACT government is increasing the opportunities for elite sportswomen and is encouraging more Canberra women and girls to participate in sport. This year we invested in a partnership with Netball NSW to attract two Giants netball matches to Canberra. With the support of Netball ACT, this partnership was able to include various community engagement activities and the formation of the Canberra Giants to provide an improved pathway for local athletes through the second-tier Australian Netball League.
We coordinated a big “women in sport” week during March, leading into the first Giants AFLW and Giants netball matches in Canberra. The week included a women’s forum and screening of the documentary A League of Her Own, which was attended by about 50 leading sports administrators, athletes and supporters of women’s sport.
We ensured that available funding within the national league team program was, for the first time, split evenly between male and female teams. And we made sure that the CBR Sport Awards in December last year provided an equal platform to celebrate the achievements of both male and female elite athletes and community sportspeople. We are also promoting greater representation of women on sporting boards, to ensure that the management and strategic direction of sporting associations benefit from the experiences, skills and vision of women as well as men.
For those who have given up on dreams of becoming elite sportswomen—like me; it was ruled out very early on—we will have a new resource to make it easier to get involved in sport around the city. The women in sport online portal will connect Canberra women and girls with information about fitness and sport activities and resources around the city. Finally, we are investing in new infrastructure to make community sporting facilities more accessible for women and girls. The recently reopened Gowrie neighbourhood oval pavilion has been refurbished, with a focus on being female-friendly through the provision of individual cubicles for showers and toilets within the change rooms. All of these measures add up to send this clear message to Canberra women and girls: you belong on the sporting fields just as much as your male counterparts; we are in awe of your sporting abilities, and we respect and admire your strength, skill and determination.
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