Page 1712 - Week 06 - Thursday, 30 July 2020
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Senior Woman of the Year. In 2015 she was recognised as Canberra Citizen of the Year. Most recently, Sue became the 2020 ACT Senior Australian of the Year.
As we have seen today, Sue has worked alongside many ministers in this government, members of the opposition and members of all parties. What a great privilege it has been to know and work with Sue in my time as Minister for Disability. Sue has been described as a respected colleague by others working in the disability space and was recognised for her generosity and for always taking the time to educate and mentor others while lifting them up.
When I first met in Sue, in her capacity as convenor for Women with Disabilities ACT, I was instantly impressed by the depth of her knowledge, her compassion and her enthusiasm. It became increasingly evident that Sue was an esteemed force within the disability sector through her high-level understanding of systemic human rights issues such as the intersection of gender and disability.
Sue displayed a passion to ensure that the barriers impeding people with disabilities were eliminated. Her work centred around advising government and non-government organisations, providing information to guide initiatives that would afford people with disabilities the same rights to economic participation and security through employment and education opportunities and housing arrangements as other people have.
Today we recognise Susan Salthouse and say thank you to her for the immeasurable value of her work. She will be dearly missed. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.04): I rise to support the motion today and add my condolences to those that have already been offered from a range of people. I think we are all absolutely on the same page that Sue Salthouse was a tireless worker and an inspirational leader in the disability sector, particularly for women but not only for women. Her dedication, passion and generosity changed many lives and will continue to change lives through her ongoing legacy. She was a fantastic mentor to others. She believed in supporting and encouraging other people with disability and other women. Generally, across the board, she was a very supportive person.
Sue was the chair of Women with Disabilities ACT and was an inaugural board member and chair of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, ACCAN, which is where I first met her. She was also a former president of Women with Disabilities Australia, and an Our Watch ambassador. She was a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council, director of Rights & Inclusion Australia, and much more.
Sue Salthouse received more awards and distinctions than I can possibly list. They include the 2010 Edna Ryan award for community activism; the 2011 inclusion award in recognition of working towards an inclusive attitude for people whatever their disability; being the 2014 ACT Senior Woman of the Year; being the 2015 Canberra Citizen of the Year, for personal efforts and significant contribution, working to improve the lives of and opportunities for people with disability, in particular, women
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