Page 710 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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Reflection on the chair
Statement by Speaker
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Lee): The Speaker earlier made a statement in relation to two reflections made by Mrs Kikkert and asked that Mrs Kikkert withdraw both reflections. Mrs Kikkert, you have the floor.
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (11 35): I withdraw.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs Kikkert.
International Women’s Day 2019
Ministerial statement
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (11.36): Once again, I welcome the opportunity to mark International Women’s Day by providing a statement to the Assembly on the status of women and girls in the ACT. Over recent years, considerable progress has been made in advancing the status of women and girls internationally, nationally and in the ACT. When compared nationally, the ACT currently has one of the largest percentages of women holding positions on government boards and committees, at 48 per cent. The ACT Legislative Assembly now has 13 of 25 representatives who are women, making us one of the only jurisdictions with more women representatives than men. Our female workforce participation rate is amongst the highest in the world at 66.6 per cent.
These achievements are the result of the focused and sustained efforts of individual women, the women’s sector, the broader community and this government. The ACT is a community where women have greater and more equal opportunities. Without the progress that we have achieved over many years of continual hard work, there is a very good chance that I would not be speaking with you about this today. But we acknowledge that there is still work to do.
While women have the same legal rights as men and are equally capable of participating in education and the workforce, in practice women continue to face many barriers. Ongoing gender stereotypes have far-reaching impacts on women. Women continue to have the majority of domestic and caring duties, and this impacts on their workforce participation with representation in part-time and casual work. This in turn impacts on their economic security and housing stability throughout their lives, including in retirement, which we know is a critical issue for so many. There are increasing rates of anxiety and depression, particularly in young women. Far too many women continue to fall victim to violence in our community, whether it is walking in their neighbourhoods or within their own homes.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, balance for better, highlights the improvements for individuals and society that can be achieved through improved
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