Page 199 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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at home and in the community. Mr Speaker, their experiences and learning can help us identify better ways of providing our services for all in the community.
MS MAHER (3.57): I commend the Government's action putting the issue of women's affairs on the agenda at this early stage of the Assembly, and I support many of the comments made by the members who have already spoken. Women must be given the opportunity to have economic security and independence, freedom from discrimination, and equality of opportunity in all spheres and activities. There is room for a big improvement in women's access to, and participation in, the making of decisions on employment, health, training and education. There is also a need to reduce the segregation in these areas, plus other areas of occupation and industry.
With regard to child-care facilities, I commend the Chief Minister in reporting that the Government will be looking into planning for child-care facilities up to the year 2000. I think at the moment child-care facilities are grossly inadequate. The concept of work-based child-care facilities should be looked into. Many women choose to stay at home rather than go out to work, and some reports have said that the number of skills they need in their daily responsibilities is more than other people need in professional jobs. It is a very stressful occupation, it is very isolated, and it needs to be looked into and supported.
With regard to Mr Kaine saying that some people do not take the opportunity to participate in professional work and the community, I feel that maybe if there were more education and training in these areas for women they would participate more. I also welcome the Government's comments that they have already begun consulting with women with regard to housing and transport, and feel that this consultation needs to be extended right across women's issues. Speaking personally, I am very interested in women's issues and look forward to being actively involved in the promotion of women's issues.
MR MOORE (4.00): Let me start by referring to Ms Maher's comment about women in the home. I am one of the very rare males that have spent 18 months at home with a baby, and I am very much aware of the situation for women that Ms Maher talks about in terms of isolation and stress. I do know that when I went back to working full time and my wife took her turn at home with the children - she now has three children to cope with, not just the one that I had to deal with - I realised where the real work was carried out.
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