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Women of the ACT Legislative Assembly have joined together to express their outrage and sadness over gender inequality, gender-based violence and an “entrenched culture of misogyny”. The speeches were prompted after Minister for Women Yvette Berry delivered her annual statement on the status of women and girls. “On Monday 15th March, many of my Assembly colleagues and I stood beside thousands of other women at Parliament House to March 4 Justice,” Ms Berry said. “The treatment of women in workplaces and across the country is unacceptable. We are demanding a future in which women are treated with dignity and respect.” Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee spoke about International Women’s Day. She questioned the theme “choose to challenge” as many women were not given a choice. “For so many women in our community – particularly for women from multicultural communities; our First Nations women; women from the LGBTIQ+ community; women with disabilities – it is not a choice to challenge – to challenge the status quo; to challenge the patriarchy; to challenge the systemic inequalities that exist for them,” she said. “I know because she is my mother. I know because she was me.” Labor MLA Dr Marisa Paterson spoke about recent allegations from Parliament House. “Since the February sitting period – a mere six weeks ago – a seismic shift has occurred in Australia,” she said. “When Brittany Higgins disclosed on national television that she was allegedly raped at Parliament House, the nation went into freefall. “Allegation after allegation of rape, sexual harassment, unprofessional behaviour – to say the least – exposed an entrenched culture of misogyny in Parliament House.” Canberra Liberals spokesperson for women Nicole Lawder told the assembly about how her granddaughter had received a letter from her school about appropriate clothing for girls on a mufti day. She said the girls were given this advice as some clothes could distract the boys. “I’m proud to say that my granddaughter wrote back, pointing out that it may be better to teach the boys not to be distracted, rather than body shaming girls about what they may or may not wear,” she said. READ MORE: Ms Berry used the statement to announce the government’s new working group to work on responses to sexual assault. She also spoke about the government’s women’s caucus, which is aimed at tackling issues that face women and girls in the territory. Only Labor and Greens members were invited to the caucus. Ms Lee said the exclusion of Liberal women members was “extremely disappointing”, and it meant no women of colour were in the caucus. “The women in my team come from diverse backgrounds and bring diverse experiences,” she said. “It is disappointing that the minister’s women’s caucus will not have a single member who can bring lived experiences of being a woman of colour in our community.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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Women of the ACT Legislative Assembly have joined together to express their outrage and sadness over gender inequality, gender-based violence and an “entrenched culture of misogyny”.
The speeches were prompted after Minister for Women Yvette Berry delivered her annual statement on the status of women and girls.
“On Monday 15th March, many of my Assembly colleagues and I stood beside thousands of other women at Parliament House to March 4 Justice,” Ms Berry said.
“The treatment of women in workplaces and across the country is unacceptable. We are demanding a future in which women are treated with dignity and respect.”
Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee spoke about International Women’s Day. She questioned the theme “choose to challenge” as many women were not given a choice.
“For so many women in our community – particularly for women from multicultural communities; our First Nations women; women from the LGBTIQ+ community; women with disabilities – it is not a choice to challenge – to challenge the status quo; to challenge the patriarchy; to challenge the systemic inequalities that exist for them,” she said.
“I know because she is my mother. I know because she was me.”
Labor MLA Dr Marisa Paterson spoke about recent allegations from Parliament House.
“Since the February sitting period – a mere six weeks ago – a seismic shift has occurred in Australia,” she said.
Labor MLA Marisa Paterson. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
“When Brittany Higgins disclosed on national television that she was allegedly raped at Parliament House, the nation went into freefall.
“Allegation after allegation of rape, sexual harassment, unprofessional behaviour – to say the least – exposed an entrenched culture of misogyny in Parliament House.”
Canberra Liberals spokesperson for women Nicole Lawder told the assembly about how her granddaughter had received a letter from her school about appropriate clothing for girls on a mufti day.
She said the girls were given this advice as some clothes could distract the boys.
“I’m proud to say that my granddaughter wrote back, pointing out that it may be better to teach the boys not to be distracted, rather than body shaming girls about what they may or may not wear,” she said.
She also spoke about the government’s women’s caucus, which is aimed at tackling issues that face women and girls in the territory. Only Labor and Greens members were invited to the caucus.
Ms Lee said the exclusion of Liberal women members was “extremely disappointing”, and it meant no women of colour were in the caucus.
“The women in my team come from diverse backgrounds and bring diverse experiences,” she said.
“It is disappointing that the minister’s women’s caucus will not have a single member who can bring lived experiences of being a woman of colour in our community.”
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
