Page 4494 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017
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the CWP step up event hosted by Madam Speaker and Mrs Jones. So it looks like they were not deterred by having played MLA for a day.
On Friday, 13 October, Ms Cheyne and I were also privileged to participate in the Twitter gender chat, where we were asked questions such as “How can we engage young people in the political process and remove token partnerships?” and “What are your top three tips for young women wanting to be a leader?”. It was a fast-moving chat requiring fast-moving fingers and an even faster moving brain. If some of the responses that Ms Cheyne and I provided in that chat inspire even one young woman to pursue life as a parliamentarian, then I think we can be pretty happy with that.
As the oldest of three girls in my family with a feminist father, I know that I am lucky: I am lucky that I was given every opportunity from a young age to reach my fullest potential; I am lucky that it was instilled in me from a young age that nothing is out of my reach; and I am lucky that my good health, access to world-class education and opportunities to engage with my community have allowed me to stand here today. But there are many young girls who do not have those opportunities or encouragement. Programs like #GirlsTakeover are important to reach these girls and young women to show them that they are valued by the community they strive to serve.
I say to any girl or young woman who is even considering dreaming about a leadership role in our community: go for it, because you have so much to give and we as a community have so much to gain from you.
Same-sex marriage postal survey
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (4.37): I rise today to encourage any Canberran who has not yet returned their marriage equality postal survey to do so and to do so by tomorrow. There has been an incredible response to the survey, with three out of four Australians having had their say, but we know that younger Australians are under-represented in that figure, and I put a special call out to them.
Madam Deputy Speaker, it is frankly abhorrent that we are being surveyed on a fundamental human right: judging other people’s relationships and their right to marry. It has been an incredibly difficult period for a large part of our community—our friends, family and colleagues. But it is happening, and the best response is an overwhelming response of yes.
I have been very clear in my support. I have doorknocked, attended rallies and held street stalls. Sometimes I have been more subtle or symbolic in my support, such as wearing a pin. I have expanded my collections of earrings, stickers, posters, flags, magnets and more. I am very grateful to the marriage equality campaign and especially to the union movement for their support with much of this material.
I accept that on occasion I have pushed the boundaries in my support and my symbolism, but I have always tried to be respectful. However, particularly over recent weeks I have found myself targeted with comments and also the removal without my knowledge, until I later discovered it, of some of my material. I know that it is nothing; it does not even scratch the surface compared to what the
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