Media Release - 8 March 2017
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENT CELEBRATES GENDER PARITY IN THE ACT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
DATE: 8 March 2017In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2017, YWCA Canberra will host three women MLAs at a morning tea event at the ACT Legislative Assembly, to explore how they can ‘lead the change’ toward gender equality in the ACT.
Deputy Chief Minister, Yvette Berry will join Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Nicole Lawder and Greens Member for Murrumbidgee, Caroline Le Couteur in a panel discussion, hosted by ABC journalist, Adrienne Francis.
The session will highlight the personal leadership journeys of the panelists, and their views on the action needed to achieve gender equality in the ACT.
“This International Women’s Day presents a unique opportunity for us here in Canberra, where we have equal gender representation in the Legislative Assembly for the first time,” YWCA Canberra Executive Director, Frances Crimmins said.
“The theme for IWD is ‘Be bold for change’, and we want to ensure that the ACT Government continues to prioritise gender equality as a key policy priority both in the immediate and long-term.”
As a leading not-for-profit organisation with over 80 years of experience in being a voice for women in the ACT, YWCA Canberra is proposing a range of evidence-based policy measures that will progress gender equality in the ACT.
“We’re working with key decision-makers and leaders from across the political spectrum to ensure Canberra is leading the way on gender equality.
“We need to ensure that gender equality is at the forefront of all decision making. The Women’s Plan was a great step towards a whole of Government approach. It now needs the commitment of all of the Directorates and the support of a central agency with the oversight and resources to drive accountability across the whole of Government. That’s why we are calling on The Office for Women to be moved to the Chief Ministers Office, so that it can play its intended role of supporting all directorates to meaningfully progress gender equality,” Ms Crimmins said.
YWCA Canberra’s IWD #LeadTheChange morning tea will take place from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday 8 March at the ACT Legislative Assembly, with more than 90 leaders from across the community, business and government sectors.
