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SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE KCIN P J KEATING, MP
RELEASE OF THE REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ADVICE
MECHANISMS ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
I am pleased to be here this morning at the rei~ ase of this review of the
Government's policy advice mechanisms on the status of women.
Today marks the opening of a new chapter in the formation of -public policy on
the status of women in Australia.
Ten years ago the Government embarked on an ambitious program to
advance the status of women. The so-called ' radical' policies espoused by
Labor then, such as sex discrimination and affirmative action laws, are now
an accepted part of our culture.
Since then, the Government has put forward policies to meet the needs and
aspirations of women across the many spheres of their lives. We have made
significant gains in areas such as employmeni, education, access to child
-, care and income security for women caring for children.
We have taken on the challenge of ending violence against women and
children, acknowledging the enormity of the task.
We know we have more to do In many areas, such as health, retirement
income and equality of participation In public Ile, but In these areas Important
advances have also been made.
Policies of governments can promote lasting, structural and attitudinal
change to promote equality for women,
When we won the election in March this year, 1 thanked the women of
Australia who voted for us believing In the policies of the Government.
The Government is very proud of the role it has played in achieving advances
for women over the last decade. But we neec to look forward, not backwards,
if those achievements are to continue.
That is what this review is about.
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It Is about ensuring that our policy advice mechanisms remain appropriate,
effective and responsive to the changing needs and interests of women.
The Off ice of the Status of Women, in my Depaiment, has played a key roie
In achieving major advances for women since 1383.
In its early days it was responsible for putting tcgether the Sex Discrimination
and Affirmative Action Acts. But its recent work has been no less Important.
Work to produce a National Strategy on Violenc~ e Against Women, the new
National Agenda for Women and development of important new policies on
child care announced earlier this year, are just some exampies.
These are all policies that have a real impact oni women's lives.
Getting the policies right for women has to be vur top priority.
The Government needs a strong Office Of the Status of Women which can
provide accurate, weii-researched and authoritative advice on how to move
the agenda forward for Australian women.
I fully endorse the review's recommendation that such policy advice should
be the primary focus of the Off ice of the Status of Women. I also support
giving priority to the three critical policy areas identified in the review:
women's economic security; the participation of women in public life; and
women and the law, with a particular emphasis on eliminating violence
against women.
But the Off ice of the Status of Women and the Government can't get it right
without help from women and their organisaticns.
When launched the new National Agenda for Women, in February this year,
I said that a unique partnership between the women's movement and the
Government has contributed greatly to our achievements over the past ten
years. We want that partnership to continue.
That doesn't mean everything has to stay the same. We need to find the
most effective ways of working together towards our common goals.
The review sets out an approach to consultaton which is designed to be
effective and focussed and elicit the views of the diversity of Australian
women. Consultation has to be purposeful, timely and focussed. It must give you the
opportunity for real input, and provide us witt advice we can use to improve
outcomes for women.
Because we want to hear regularly from organisations representing women,
we will hold Round Table Meetings with national women's Organisation$ twice
each year. The Minister assisting me on the status of women, Senator
Crowley, will host these meetings and invite other Ministers as appropriate.
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As with today, such meetings will Include repre~ entatives of the union
movement, the business community, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders
and ethnic communities.
We will also convene specific purpose advisory committees, as necessary, to
assist us with discrete tasks. The first such committee will be the Australian
Council for the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Its role will be to act as a focal point for Australia's preparations for the United
Nation's Fourth World Conference on Women, to be held in Beijing in 1995.
Senator Crowley will be announcing details of tViat Committee very soon.
We will also undertake regular research on the views and concerns of women
in the community to ensure that we stay in touch and on track.
In closing I would like to thank the Minister assisting me on the status of
women, Senator Rosemary Crowley, for underlaking this important review
and for her report. I would also thank you for the contributions and comments
many of you made on aspects of the review.
I have accepted and welcomed the review's re%. ommendations. I will leave it
to my colleague, Senator Crowley, to detail the, recommendations and their'
Implications for you. There is however, one rel-ommendlation that I would like
to comment on.
I take very seriously the first recommendation, that we should have a Minister
Assisting representing women's interests in Cabinet.
I do not intend to enter into speculation about how or when this will be
achieved. However, I will give serious consideration to the Issue at the next
_ appropriate opportunity.
The report of this review outlines some exciting and challenging work for
Senator Crowley and the Office of the Status ) f Women. I look forward to
working with Senator Crowley and the Office of the Status of Women, and
with you here today, to achieve further progress towards true equality for
women. CANBERRA 18 October 1993