I,
NIOTES FOR UOlliEIV'S H1ORNIhG TEA
1. COMMIITTED TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE,
INCLUDING WOMEN, BUT GIVEN THAT WOMEN HAVE TENDED TO BE
NEGLECTED, NECESSARY TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORT TO ENSURE AS
MUCH IMPROVEMENT AS POSSIBLE IN AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE TIME.
2a APPOINTED ADVISOR ON WOMEN'S AFFAIRS. WIFE OFTEN
COMMENTS THAT I SHOULD HAVE ONE ON MEN'S AFFAIRS, BUT POINT
IS MEN HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED EN MASSE FOR CENTURIES AND
WOMEN NEED SPECIAL VOICE. BACKING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S
YEAR, NOT BECAUSE A GIMMICK BUT BECAUSE EXCELLENT WAY TO
FOCUS ATTENTION ON BROAD SPECTRUM OF WOMEN S CONCERNS.
3, HAVE PAID MORE rHAN LIPSERVICE TO I. WN, Y. $ 2 MILLION
SET ASIDE. CONFERENCES BEING PLANNED ON WOMEN'S HEALTH,
WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT AND WOMEN AND THE MEDIA PLUS MEXICO
CONFERENCE AND CHOGM WIVES MEETING. MAY NOT LIKE BADGE
BUT WILL HAVE SEEN IT ON STAMPS. MY SECRETARIAL STAFF
AND PRESS OFFICE HAVE LIBERALLY DECORATED WITH " WOMEN
ARE ON THE MOVE", " WOMEN ARE TRANSMOGRIFYING" AND " WOMEN'S
PLACE IS EVERYWHERE" STICKERS$
4. WOMEN'S PLACE IS CERTAINLY ON A NUMBER OF THE COMMISSIONS
AND ADVISORY BODIES MY GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED
ELIZABETH EVATT, ENID CAMPBELL, HILDA ROLFE, AND WOMEN IN
PUBLIC SERVICE MARIE COLEMAN AND JEAN BATTERSBY. WOMEN IN
THE HOUSE THE LOVELY JOAN CHILD, SENATORS MELZER AND COLEMAN
AS WELL AS LIBERAL SENATORS GUILFOYLE AND MARTIN. TREMENDOUS
CONTRIBUTION, o, . o/ 2
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STILL GREAT CHALLENGE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE TALENTS
AVAILABLE. COMIMITTEE ON JOB DISCRIMINATION, FOR A START.
HOW TO BRING ABOUT EQUAL PAY W ITHOUT PUTTING WOMEN OUT OF
WORK. HOW TO MODERNISE WITHOUT MAKING PREVIOUSLY ESSENTIAL
PROCESS WORKERS REDUNDANT? AWARE OF THE PROBLEM: ITS WHY SO
MANY WAOMEN ANXIOUS TO GET A [ JEAT GRANT, WOMEN BEING
EMPLOYED ON SOME OF THE RED GRANTS AND QUITE PROPERLY.
THEN THERE ARE ALL THE VOLUNTARY WORKERS AND VOLUNTARY
ENTHUSIASTS WHO MAY NOT CHOOSE TO GO OUT TO WORK BUT ARE
NEVERTHELESS INVOLVED IN VITAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DESIGNED
TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT WHETHER THE OLD,
THE VERY YOUNG, THE HANDICAPPED, YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS1f
FAMILIES WqITH PROBLIEMS THE VERY GROUPS UNABLE TO SPEAK
FOR THEMSEL/ ES AND ABOUT WHOM my GOVERNMENT CARES, AND MY
GOVERNMENT Z3REALISES THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP
VOLUNTARY ' ND ZHARITA3LE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS KIND
OF WORK B; UT ALSO TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITHOUT
CONTROL SO Th. A-i THE WORK CAN GO ON MORE EFFICIENTLY BUT WITHOUT
LOSING THAT FERSONAL CONTACT WHICH IS VITAL.
7. JUST THIS WEEK I VISITED THE Low HEAD GERIATRIC HOSPITAL
AND SAW AT FIRST HAND THE EXCELLENCE OF THE ATTENTION GIVEN
TO THESE OLD PEOPLE. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE OPENED
THREE OLD PEOPLES HOMES BUILT SINCE my GOVERNMENT INCREASED
SUBSIDY PAYABLE TO ORGANISATIONS TO $ 4j FOR $ 1I FROM $ 2 FOR $ 1,
TASMANIA HAS RECEIVED NEARLY $ 3 MILLION FOR SUCH ACCOMMODATION.
WE REALISE THE NEED TO HOUSE OLD PEOPLE WITH AS MUCH
INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENCE AND COMFORT AS NECESSARY AND WE
HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
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8. THEN AT THE OTHER END OF THE SCALE THERE IS THE WHOLE
RANGEOF CHLDHOOD SERVICES WHICH BENEFIT BT OHR N
CHILDREN, i( ifi BEAZLEY POINTED OUT THAT 5,000 KINDERGARTEN
PLACES ARE BEING PROVIDED IN TASMANIA NOT BY THE SCHOOLS
COMMISSIONJ BUT BY THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSION. AND I WANT
TO KNOCK THE RUMOUR THAT IT FORESHADOWS A FEDERAL TAKEOVER
OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION. IT MEANS PURELY AND SIMPLY THAT
MORE PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR KINDERGARTEN AGE CHILDREN.
UNDER VARIOUS ACTS. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS
PROVIDED 4) 298,000 FOR THE CITY OF LAUNCESTON TO PURCHASE LAND
ANID CONSTRUCT A CHILD CARE CENTRE FOR 55 CHILDREN FROM
YEARS, AND THE QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL CRECHE HAS
RECEIVED A $ 21,718 FOR STAFF SUBSIDY AND $ 6,127 ON A NEEDS
BASIS. AT LILYDALE, A SINGLE UNIT PRESCHOOL WILL RECEIVE
A $ 47,850 GRANT, AND ANOTHER AT YOUNGTOWN WILL GET $ 48,950,
RAVENSWOOD PRIMARY WILL GET $ 111,000 FOR A DOUBLE UNIT
PRESCHOOL. AN ADDITIONAL $ 119,000 GOES TO SUMMERDALE FOR
SIMILAR UNITS. THEN THE TASMANIAN CHILD CARE ORGANISATION
IS TO GET $ 10, 500 FOR THE FIRST YEAR'S OPERATION FOR
LAUNCESTON FAMILY DAY CARE, PLUS A $ 13,000 RECURRENT
PER CAPITA GRANT AND $ 1,700 FOR EQUIPMENT.
AFTER THE PRESS CLUB LUNCHEON YESTERDAY, TWO WOMEN MADE
A POINT OF THANKING ME FOR WHAT my GOVERNMENT HAS DONE FOR
HANDICAPPED AND RETARDED CHILDREN. BUT OF COURSE WE DON' T GET
MUCH PUBLICITY FOR THE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP IN THESE
AREAS. k AS LONG AS PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES REALISE, THAT IS
WHAT MATTERS MOST, BECAUSE YOU CARE MOST.
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IN 1973/ 74 WE MADE $ 179,368 AVAILABLE TO
TASMANIA FOR SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT. THAT FIGURE ROSE LAST
YEAR ON THE BASIS OF A $ 4 FOR $ 1 SUBSIDY FOR CAPITAL COSTS
AND $ 1 FOR $ 1 FOR ELIGIBLE STAFF SERVICES TO NON-PROFIT
ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES,
SIMILAR GRANTS COME UNDER ASSISTANCE FOR
HANDICAPPED PERSONS INCLUDING A $ 4 FOR $ 1 RENTAL SUBSIDY
TO ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING CENTRES, EQUIPMENT AND
RESIDENTIAL HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
AND ADULTS,