BackTuesday, 7 March 2017
International Women’s Day 2017: Be Bold for Change
Dignity MLC Kelly Vincent says being bold for change is not only to be encouraged, but is essential at every level of our society if women are to achieve and prosper alongside men.
“It’s hard to believe that although I was born in 1988, thirteen years after International Women’s Year, the struggle for basic equality continues in Australia today.
“Equal pay for equal work doesn’t even exist yet. Until this pay gap is eliminated, we must continue pushing employers to value equally women’s work.
“Girls and young woman cannot be what they cannot see. We need positive, strong, outspoken and resilient women as role models.
“Here in Australia, and worldwide, women are more likely to live in poverty than men.
“Women with disabilities are hideously over represented in abuse statistics. Up to 90 percent of women with intellectual disability will be sexually abused in their lifetime.
“Politics is one frontier for women to conquer along the road to equality, yet our system of late night sittings, and generally adversarial politics still cry out for reform.
“I am proud to follow in the footsteps of many women parliamentarians before me. But so much more needs to be done.
“This year, on IWD I say let’s be bold for change, but we shouldn’t have to push just to get that which is rightfully ours. IWD is a day to take call and take action for equality, and support our sisters around the globe to do the same.