http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/ Australian Democrats : Vida Network en-au http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/images/logo.gif http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/ web@vida.democrats.org.au http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=77 Tell the senate that you think women have the right to safe, affordable and legal abortion. Sign the petition now. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=76 Join Senator Lyn Allison for lunch @ noon, Sunday 6 March to celebrate the inspirational legacy of Janine Haines in the lead up to International Women's Day. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=75 The International Women's Development Agency are running events to coincide with International Women's Day in early March. If you're near Sydney, Bega, Hobart, Melbourne or Canberra, have a look at their website to find out how you can get involved. Also, if you're near Melbourne, visit the International Women's Day fair at CERES in Brunswick - take a look at their website for further information. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=74 The Age 6 February 2005 Prime Minister John Howard said today he would permit parliament to debate a private member's bill on abortion but had no expectation it would pass. Mr Howard said he personally did not like abortion and he expected Opposition Leader Kim Beazley held similar views. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=73 The Age, 10 December 2004 Australian women face continuing domestic violence, a lack of child-care and sexual assault services, pay inequality and increasing homelessness, a new report reveals. The Our Rights, Our Voices report, released to coincide with International Human Rights Day, highlighted the problem of fewer services for women at a time when violence and discrimination continued to rise, its authors said. The report was written by the Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) and the Women's Rights Action Network Australia as part of a national project documenting the human rights experiences of women in Australia. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=72 22nd November 2004 Senator Lyn Allison "...Democrats Senators are enormously saddened to hear that Janine Haines died last night after a lengthy illness. Senator Allison said, "As the first female leader of an Australian political party and arguably our most successful, she was a great role model for women and a great parliamentarian. "She was a woman of enormous personal charm, dignity and integrity. "Her courage in contesting and coming close to winning the lower house seat of Kingston was legendary..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=71 Article from Crikey.com.au 22 November 2004 "...There is no Australian equivalent of Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett Packard. There is also no Australian equivalent of Theresa Gattung, the CEO of Telecom New Zealand. The most successful home grown female CEO in Australia is probably Catherine Livingstone, the woman who headed ear implant company Cochlear for six years until 2000, but she's now on the non-executive directors' circuit as well. Therefore, the challenge is on. Why can't Australia produce more power women in business? Is there still a patriarchal legacy? Afterall, our former biggest company News Corp has no female directors and a bloke at the top who only likes to promote his sons, not his daughters..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=70 Senator Lyn Allison 17th November 2004 "...Giving birth while a teenager is strongly associated with disadvantage later in life, as teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school, have low levels of qualifications, be unemployed and low paid, live in poor housing conditions, suffer from depression and live on welfare. Children of teenagers are more likely to live in poverty, to grow up without a father, to become a victim of neglect or abuse, to become involved in crime and abuse, drugs and alcohol, and eventually to become teenage parents themselves, beginning the cycle all over again. Having said that, I want to acknowledge that there are many teenage mothers out there who do a great job of parenting and who do not suffer from those disadvantages, but they are in the minority and, for the most part, their lives are a hard slog..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=69 Op Ed by Senator Natasha Stott Despoja Democrats spokesperson for the Status of Women. 10th November 2004 "...Women beware: this is the warning shot across the bows of the women of the noughties. Become complacent, shrug off feminism, and watch your rights go down the gurgler, including your reproductive rights. Vacate the jobs the boys want forget about the boardrooms and get back to the kitchen, the church, the bedroom. "The rights we have taken for granted for the past 30 years could disappear while we are not watching. While we have been focussed on outstanding issues like the lack of child care and maternity leave, unequal pay and domestic violence, a growing number of decision-makers have been obsessing about our bodies..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=68 Robyn Danski East Metropolitan Region Candidate 10th November 2004 Speech at National Council of Women WA "...While no single parent of young children should be forced into the workforce, those that choose to work need support. The State Government is one of the biggest employers of women, through hospitals and primary schools. When was the last time you saw a staff day-care centre at a public hospital?.." "...A new report has described the State services for victims of domestic violence as ‘tragic’. Julie Oberin, of the Women’s Services Network, and the report author, said that often the refuges are turning away as many as they are helping. "Again, this is a situation where the Government is encouraging women to take a course of action (in this case a positive action), and then not providing the necessary support for them. "When women and children leave a violent situation they are in even greater danger. The Australian Democrats will move to drastically improve the funding for state refuges, and work to develop the infrastructure to provide affordable housing choices for every one in Western Australia..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=67 Senator Natasha Stott Despoja 30th August 2004 "...The Test Case could have profound benefits for working families - particularly women - who are still the primary carers for children and other family members with a disability, frailty or mental illness," Democrats' Work and Family Spokesperson Senator Stott Despoja said. "We support the ACTU Test Case and believe it is timely, especially given this Government has failed to deliver on its promise to make work and family balance a priority of its third term. "The ACTU claims reflect many of the policies that the Democrats have put forward in order to achieve a better balance between work and family and provide more choice for women..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=66 Ms Robyn Danski WA East Metropolitan Candidate "...Those in female-dominated industries are lower paid with less entitlements than those in the male-dominated sectors. If the Australian Labor Party has a policy of changing this inequality then it needs to put its money where its mouth is,” said Ms Danski. “It is all very well for Mr Latham to talk about what he will do for women if the Labor party comes into power nationally. All around Australia it already has the power to make it happen in the states. Women are fed up with the rhetoric and they want some action.” “Inequalities in pay-packets follows through to lower superannuation, so women end up with less during their work lives and in retirement. The Western Australian government has been given the baton by its national leader to correct this situation and now it needs to run with it,” said Ms Danski. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=65 "...state Labor governments had the power to narrow the gap between what men and women were paid on average. That was because state governments were the major public employers of women. "The fact remains that if state governments wanted to fix pay equity in a single stroke by paying teachers and nurses more – all government employees – they would fix half of that gap," she said. "It would be substantially improved overnight if the public sector pulled its weight." Ms Goward said unions needed to pay more attention to the issue, especially in the area of over-award payments. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=64 Senator Lyn Allison's press release of 19th July regarding Labour's policy on women's health issues, particularly in the areas of midwifery, mental health and alcohol abuse, is disheartening. Senator Allison said "It is encouraging the ALP is restoring a focus on women's health promotion, but this is clearly not a conclusive 'women's policy' if such vital women's health needs are being overlooked." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=63 "...It was revealed that $US12million of the sum will be paid to Allison Schieffelin, a former bond saleswoman at Morgan Stanley who claimed she had been passed over for promotion in favour of less qualified men. She was the lead plaintiff in the class action. Some $US40 million will be kept in a fund to be distributed to the plaintiffs by Morgan Stanley, while $US2 million will be used to set up an anti-discrimination arm at the bank, after 340 former employees sued the bank because they claimed they had been passed over for promotion and not paid fairly. Twenty of the women were due to testify that they had endured a striptease in the office. One woman claimed meetings were held at topless bars and strip clubs, and another alleged she had been presented with a birthday cake in the shape of a breast..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=62 Natasha Stott Despoja 4th May 2004 "...Unhealthy body image has long been a problem in our society, but even more concerning is evidence the average age of those requiring treatment for anorexia nervosa and bulimia has dropped from14-and-a-half to 12 years of age, according to reports by Sydneys Westmead Childrens hospital. "The community would be shocked to discover the high number of people suffering from disordered eating and the severity of its symptoms. Unhealthy body image is often connected to health issues such as eating disorders, depression and low self esteem," Senator Stott Despoja said. "Its more than a year since the motion calling for an inquiry into body image passed the Senate, yet the Government has failed to establish this inquiry. "The social pressure, much of it perpetrated by the media, for young girls and women to have a certain type of body is immense and unrelenting. A review into body image, particularly the relationship between the media and body image, provides an opportunity for more detailed analysis of the issue and is long overdue..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=61 Senator Andrew Bartlett 1st July 2004 "...The family bonus payment was announced in the Budget on a Tuesday night, introduced as legislation on the Wednesday and passed through the Senate by lunchtime Thursday," he said. "The Democrats opposed the rush to pass such a massive spending measure, but Labor joined with the Government to pass it without proper examination. "The Democrats also tried to fix a flaw which means many carers on welfare payments will miss out on extra assistance because they arent on the 'right' payment. Neither of the major parties were interested in addressing this problem, so many deserving carers have missed out. "This is another example of the major parties only doing a part-time job in the Senate, waving legislation through without scrutiny whenever it suits their agenda of winning Government. This is why the Democrats want to ensure voters give as much thought to who they vote for in the Senate, as who they want as Prime Minister..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=60 Senator Natasha Stott Despoja 30th June 2004 "...It is a chauvinist Government that in the lead up to a Federal Election, has policies which disadvantage women, such as its much-vaunted tax cuts, which the ACTU said today only 15 per cent of working women will receive. "The Governments $3000 Maternity Payment, to be paid to the families of babies born from midnight tonight, is a baby buy-off, designed as a pre-election sweetener for families. "It is a welfare payment not a workplace entitlement, which means it does not go directly to women to recognise their need to take a break from their paid work to have a baby, but into general household revenue. "The Government has ignored its own research about the dangers of paying a maternity payment as a lump sum, with the result that women are being criticised over the way they are spending it..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=59 Senator Andrew Bartlett 21st June 2004 "...This continual pretence, this continual deceit, is the worst component of the government's approach to this and it is why we have ended up in this situation and it is why we have a clear situation where the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence, all the ministers saw no reason to explore or follow up any allegations. They were not interested and they were not looking when allegations came forward. `It is nothing to do with us,' according to the government. `Just because we invaded the place, just because we are still there and just because we are involved in the capture of people, does not mean how they are treated has anything to do with us.' How pathetic is that? What a total wiping of the slate of a most basic obligation. Because of that legal fiction that this government has convinced itself of, and continues to try to deceive the Australian people with, it has shown no interest in following up these allegations. The minister made this clear at estimates. Other allegations were widely made public through the media, not just the photographs but other allegations of gross mistreatment, including sexual assault and rape of female prisoners. Did the minister follow that up? No. `Nothing to do with us,' according to the minister, `why should we follow it up?' How appalling is that? There is no interest in verifying the accuracy of strong allegations which clearly damage Australia's reputation. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=58 Senator Andrew Bartlett 3rd June 2004 "...Many low income parents, who did not benefit from tax cuts, will now struggle to pay the large gap between increased childcare costs and the level of government payments available to help with them. The Government also needs to look at the workplace, look at initiates to encourage childcare in the workplace or for workplaces to provide childcare subsidies. "The Democrats have proposed the establishment of Work and Family Act and Commission, to ensure more workplaces implement and comply with family friendly work practices. "We have also proposed a Fair Hour Fund which aims to reduce working hours to make them more family friendly, while at the same time increasing employment..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=57 Senator Brian Greig 16th June 2004 The inclusion of Australia on the list of destinations for sex slave trafficking in a US government report has put the Howard Government on notice that it must improve its performance in combating the people trafficking industry. Australian Democrats Attorney General & Justice spokesperson, Senator Brian Greig, says the listing will act as a benchmark against which the Government should measure its improvement. http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=56 Tuesday 2nd June 2004 The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Industry, Invest­ment and Trade, representing the Attorney-General, a question concerning allegations of child sex abuse. Leave granted. "...My office has been in contact with the mother of a young child who is facing a terrible dilemma. This woman has recently spent seven days in the Northfield Women's Prison for contempt of court, as a consequence of denying her ex-partner visiting rights to their child. She took this extraordinary step because she believes the girl's father is sexually abusing the child..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=55 Senator Andrew Bartlett 1st June 2004 "...Senator Bartlett questioned the Defence Minister Senator Hill today about a report that female prisoners were being raped and tortured, and that a US secret inquiry had confirmed the abuse. Senator Hill confirmed the Government had made no effort to determine the accuracy of reports or details of the abuse nor had they requested copies of the photos of POW treatment from the US Administration..." "..."After numerous examples of hiding or gagging public servants, defence personnel and even the Police Commissioner, in order to maintain the Prime Minister's preferred security spin, the Government no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt," Senator Bartlett said. "Time and time again they have got it wrong, refused to admit any errors, and failed to correct the record when the truth is eventually uncovered..." http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=54 By Christine Jackman May 12, 2004 http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9540323%255E28097,00.html "...ON yer backs, ladies! That's an order from your Treasurer, the man determined to put the rev back into revenue and the fun into fiscal discipline... "...The blokes - and, if you peruse the budget coverage by this newspaper, as well as that of most media outlets, you'll notice the budget is a blokier affair than most footy matches these days - loved it. A wag from Nine suggested it should be called the breeder's budget. Our own Matt Price reckons it's not about elections but erections...." ".....No, it's WOMEN that John Howard and Peter Costello want. More specifically, they want those under-utilised and downright un-Australian ovaries to be put to good use. The pages of the very glossy ``More Help for Families'' budget brochure bulged like a woman in her third trimester... http://www.vida.democrats.org.au/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=53 ABC News online 7th May 2004 "...The Democrats' work and family spokeswoman, Natasha Stott Despoja, says the payment should be more than doubled. "We are now one of only two OECD countries that doesn't have a scheme of paid maternity leave," she said. "We have two-thirds of Australian working women missing out on any benefits whatsoever when they decide to have a child and they are in the workforce. "We advocate 14 weeks minimum, at the minimum wage, and that should apply to all working women regardless of their employment...."