Page 786 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Many of the work experience and support program participants have gained employment contacts or permanent jobs in the ACT workforce after participating in this program, and over the last three years 50 per cent-plus of participants in that program have been women. Many of the women who participate in this program come from countries such as India, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, the Philippines, Japan, Greece and Belarus. The commitment of multicultural women to participate in programs such as the work experience and support program and their determination to settle into the Canberra community is something to celebrate, and the ACT will continue to support multicultural women—new arrivals.
I also wish to acknowledge the importance of recognising women’s participation in the workforce. The recently released What Women Want 2010-11 Survey Report, published by the Community and Public Sector Union, indicates that a key concern for working women is access to paid maternity leave. According to the CPSU report, a third of women rated paid maternity leave as very important and a further 14 per cent said it was important. The ACT government recognises these concerns and, as a result, in 2009 we as a government announced the introduction of 18 weeks paid maternity leave for ACT public service workers—one of the most generous maternity leave schemes in the country.
Madam Assistant Speaker, celebrating women and celebrating International Women’s Day is indeed a matter of public importance. This government recognises the victories that we have achieved for women but also understands there is a lot more to do. This is why the government will maintain our vision and support women and girls to realise their potential and continue to be valued and recognised by the community.
Over lunchtime today I had the pleasure of launching a booklet which was based on some work done through the Commissioner for Children and Young People. He engaged the conversation: why are girls important? It was really heartening and refreshing to see the honest and quite meaningful contributions by our young women.
Finally, I would just like to briefly mention the senior appointments in DHCS of three senior women who have come to join the team. I welcome Natalie Howson as the deputy chief executive. I welcome Christine Nolan as the Executive Director of the Office for Children, Youth and Family Services. I also welcome Veronica Wensing, who, when she returns from a holiday overseas, will be joining the Office for Women as director-manager, initially for a six-month period, but I am sure I convince her to stay a little bit longer.
I thank Ms Hunter for bringing on this motion. I have really enjoyed the celebrations that I know that a number of us have been to over the week. The week will come to an end, but certainly the work and activity that is behind International Women’s Day will continue for the weeks and months ahead.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (4.32): I thank Ms Hunter for bringing on this matter of public importance. I suspect that a sitting week wherein International Women’s Day falls could not go by without a motion or a matter of public importance. It always falls to my task on these occasions to rain on our parade just a little. I would like to go on the record, first and foremost, on behalf of a whole range of people who have
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video