Page 822 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2018
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MR BARR: I am not across the detail of that lease. I will take that question on notice.
Women—government support
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for Women. How has the ACT celebrated the valuable contributions that women have made across Canberra which have contributed to improving the status of women in the ACT?
MS BERRY: International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to honour and acknowledge the work of many people in our community who go above and beyond the norm to make real change. This year we celebrated through the presentation of women’s day awards to three outstanding women who have done some pretty cool things in promoting better outcomes for girls and women.
The ACT woman of the year award was awarded to Ashleigh Streeter-Jones, who has already in her relatively few inspiring years done some amazing things for women and girls in our community. Ashleigh has been a director of Future 21: Young Australians in International Affairs, which aspires to get more young people involved in international affairs. She was part of the task force behind the recognition of trans inclusion and co-organised the girls takeover parliament program to inspire and equip the next generation of female leaders.
Young woman of the year was Ashleigh’s comrade-in-arms, Ms Caitlin Figueiredo. Caitlin, again a young achiever doing great things, is an international champion for gender equality. Along with Ashleigh, Ms Figueiredo co-founded the world’s largest political takeover, which reached 10 million people and trained Canberra women in leadership, public speaking and Indigenous rights.
Our senior woman of the year was awarded to Ms Cathi Moore. Ms Moore has contributed to leadership positions in key community organisations and on government boards for 30 years, including serving as the President of YWCA Canberra and board member and Treasurer of YWCA Australia where she successfully campaigned for the introduction of the 30 per cent quota for young women under 30 in governance positions in the YWCA both nationally and locally.
MS ORR: Minister, why is it important for the ACT government to acknowledge these women and the work they do, and to keep working on strategies to support women to meet their full potential?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Orr for her supplementary question. Since 1911, we have formally celebrated International Women’s Day, with so much great progress in advancing rights for women and girls. We have achieved so much since that time. As I said, our celebrations for the week of International Women’s Day allow us to spend more time honouring and acknowledging great women in our community.
I note that there are some members in the opposition who are not listening to the response to this important question. I hope that they will pay attention and will continue to champion the work that great women in our community do.
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