11 SEPTEMBER 1974
SPEECH BY-THE PRIME MINISTER
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR
INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CANBERRA
ONE OF THE REGULAR AND OFTEN UNNOTICED
ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS ITS DESIGNATION
OF INTERNATIONAL YEARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING
ATTENTION TO MATTERS OF HUMAN SIGNIFICANCE. ' FOR
INSTANCE IN THE PAST DECADE THERE HAVE BEEN
PROCLAIMED SUCH YEARS AS
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR ( 1965)
INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ( 1968)
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION YEAR ( 1970)
INTERNATIONAL YEAR TO COMBAT RACISM AND
RAC. IAL DISCRIMINATI. ON ( 1971)
WORLD POPULATION YEAR ( 1973)
* IN THE PAST, IN AUSTRALIA, THESE YEARS HAVE
BEEN CELEBRATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES
OF VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS, BUT RARELY HAVE GOVERNMENTS
TAKEN THESE YEARS SERIOUSLY ENOUG-H TO PLAN FAR-REACHING
AND IMAGINATIVE PROGRAMS AIMED AT ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES
OF THE YEAR. My GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT THERt IS
MUCH MORE THAT CAN BE DONE, AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, TO
ASSIST AND CO-ORDINATE THE CELEBRATION OF THESE
YEARS$ / 2
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THE STRUGGLE FOR UNIVERSAL HUAN RIGHTS
IS A PROTRACTED AND PERHAPS AN UNENDING STRUGGLE.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR IS CONSIDERED TO BE
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THAT THE GOVERNMENT. IS
DETERMINED THAT ITS ACTIONS AND PHILOSOPHIES
ADOPTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM BE MATCHED WITH
THOSE PURSUED AT HOME. IN THE UNITED NATIONS,
AUSTRALIA IS BECOMING KNOWN AS AN OUTSPOKEN CONTENDER
FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE
A CONTINUING OBLIGATION TO DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO
-PROMOTE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
To MY MIND, THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND
ENLIGHTENED ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND
IT IS FROM THIS FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT TO THE DIGNITY
OF PEOPLE THAT 1975 WAS UNANIMOUSLY PROCLAIMED ON
18 DECEMBER 1972 BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO BE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR,
IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT
WAS THOUGHT NECESSARY TO NOMINATE A YEAR FOR ALL
NATIONS TO MAKE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TOWARDS ENSURING
THAT WOMEN ENJOY THE DIGNITY OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, / 3
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THAT THEY AKt INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY AND THAT
THERE IS A RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY,
IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING THIS FACT BECAUSE
IT IS A SOBERING THOUGHT THAT WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD HAVE TO BE GRANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
THE FORMATION OF A NATIONAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE, AND THIS ITS INAUGURAL MEETING, IS'AN
INSURANCE THAT AUSTRALIA WILL FACE THE RESPONSIBILITY
* THAT THIS YEAR PLACES UPON US.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
MARSHALL, CO-ORDINATE AND ENCOURAGE THE DEDICATION,
ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM OF ORGANISATIONS AND WOMEN
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IN ADDITION YOU WILL
PROVIDE A NATIONAL DIRECTION TO THIS ACTIVITY SO THAT
1975 IS NOT ONLY A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANCE IN ITSELF
BUT THAT IT WILL HAVE MADE A LASTING CONTRIBUTION
TOWARDS REDUCING THE PREJUDICES AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY
FROM WHICH WOMEN SUFFER. IT IS ALSO MY HOPE THAT THIS
YEAR WILL ENSURE A LASTING RECOGNITION OF THE GREAT
CONTRIBUTION THAT WOMEN HAVE MADE, AND CONTINUE TO
MAKE, TO AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY, S./ 14
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION CAN ONLY ACHIEVE SO
MUCH AND I SHALL NOT PRETEND TO YOU THAT ANY GOVERNMENT
CAN ACHIEVE IMMEDIATELY FOR AUSTRALIAN WOMEN THE REVOLUTION
REQUIRED TO ALLOW THEM TO DEVELOP FULLY AS INDIVIDUALS,
FOR INSTANCE IT MUST BE SAID THAT, EVEN IF
WE WERE TO REMOVE ALL THE INEQUALITIES OF OPPORTUNITY
AND OF STATUS, IT STILL WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH, WE HAVE
TO ATTACK THE SOCIAL INEQUALITIES, THE HIDDEN AND
USUALLY UNARTICULATED ASSUMPTIONS WHICH AFFECT WOMEN
NOT ONLY IN EMPLOYMENT BUT IN THE WHOLE RANGE OF THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE,
THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER FOR GOVERNMENTS
AND FOR ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS IT IS A MATTER OF
CHANGING COMMUNITY ATTITUDES AND UPROOTING COMMUNITY
PREJUDICES, AND INSOFAR AS THIS REQUIRES A RE-EDUCATION
OF THE COMMUNITY THEN CLEARLY GOVERNMENTS ALONE CANNOT
BE EXPECTED TO DO THE WHOLE JOB, YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE
OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE
HUMAN RIGHTS BILL WAS TO PERMIT AUSTRALIA TO RATIFY
THE CONVENTION ON THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN, WHICH
WAS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN 1952 AND CAME
INTO FORCE IN JULY 1954, AUSTRALIA IS NOT A PARTY TO
THE CONVENTION ON THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN AS
THERE IS STILL LEGISLATION IN TWO STATES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AND TASMANIA, THAT DOES NOT YET FULLY CONFORM WITH
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT CONVENTION, THIS CONVENTION
PROVIDES THAT WOMEN SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HOLD PUBLIC
OFFICE AT AUSTRALIAN AND STATE LEVEL ON EQUAL TERMS
WITH MEN, WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION, ACTION HAS
ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO AMEND AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATION
RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO REMOVE PROVISIONS
THAT OFFEND AGAINST THIS CONVENTION, -IT ISEXPECTED
THAT AUSTRALIA WILL RATIFY OR ACCEDE TO THAT CONVENTION
AFTER THESE DEFECTS HAVE BEEN OVERCOME, EITHER AS A
RESULT OF THE PROPOSED HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OR BY THE
ENACTMENT OF SPECIFIC LEGISLATION ON THE SUBJECT,
MY GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADYfESTABLISHED
A NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
AND OCCUPATION, OTHER ACTION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT
IN THE AREA OF WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT INCLUDE:
SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION IN DECEMBER 1972
IN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE AUSTRALIAN
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION COMMISSION
TO HAVE ESTABLISHED THE. PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL
PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE, CONSULTATIONS
WITH STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE LED TO MOST
STATES AGREEING TO THIS PRINCIPLE,
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THE PROVISION OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN WISHING TO ENTER OR RE-ENTER THE
LABOUR FORCE AFTER A PERIOD OF DOMESTIC
RESPONSIBILITY,
THIS COMING YEAR WILL ALSO SEE THE BEGINNING
OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW PROGRAM
FOR THE CARE AND EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, IN NO
OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS SUCH AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM
BEEN ATTEMPTED, THIS PROGRAM RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR
EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH AND WELFARE COMPONENTS IN CHILD
CARE; IT RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR THESE SAME SERVICES
FOR CHILDREN WHETHER THEY BE LOOKED AFTER AT HOME OR
ELSEWHERE, IT WILL BREAK DOWN THE TRADITIONAL
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN OCCASIONAL CARE AND REGULAR CARE,
BETWEEN PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND CHILD MINDING, ALL
CHILDREN WHETHER THEY BE LOOKED AFTER AT HOME OR
ELSEWHERE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO LOCAL CENTRES DESIGNED
TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGICAL
AND OTHER NEEDS, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM
WILL PLACE AUSTRALIA AMONGST THOSE COUNTRIES MOST
GENUINELY CONCERNED WITH WELFARE OF THE YOUNG.
FURTHERMORE, THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION HAS
ESTABLISHED A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE RELATION
BETWEEN SOCIAL CHANGE AND THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN
AND GIRLS, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS COMMITTEE .17
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' WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT TO BE PRESENTED TO
PARLIAMENT IN THE COURSE OF NEXT YEAR, IT3 TERMS OF
REFERENCE ARE FAR-REACHING AND ITS TASK A DIFFICULT ONE,
FOR NOT ONLY MUST IT PINPOINT THOSE AREAS OF EDUCATION
WITHIN WHICH WOMEN ARE DISADVANTAGED, BUT IT MUST ALSO
MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTION,
MANY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE
PROGRAMS PLANNED FOR THE COMING YEAR,
IN THE FIELD OF WOMEN'S HEALTH, THE FIRST,
AND BASIC, INIATIVE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEICHHARDT WOMEN'S COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTRE IN SYDNEY, THE AIM OF THI. S CENTRE IS TO
S MEET A NEED EXPRESSED BY WOMEN FOR A HEALTH SERVICE
STAFFED BY WOMEN DIRECTED SOLELY TOWARDS THE SPECIAL
HEALTH NEEDS OF WOMEN, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INIATIVE
OF A COMPLETELY NEW DIMENSION DERIVING DIRECTLY FROM
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S BROAD POLICY PERSPECTIVES
AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM WILL BE ACTIVELY
DEVELOPED TO GIVE IT PRIORITY,
GREATER PARTICIPATION BY, WOMEN AT ALL LEVELS
OF HEALTH CARE PLANNING, DELIVERY AND ADMINISTRATION
IS BEING ACTIVELY PROMOTED AND THIS POLICY IS PROVIDING
WOMEN WITH INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES OF INFLUENCING THE
DIRECTION WHICH HEALTH CARE IS TAKING IN THE COMMUNITY, / 8
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IN THE FIELD OF ABORIGINAL HEALTH, ABORIGINAL
WOMEN ARE BEING INVOLVED TO AN INCREASING DEGREE IN THE
DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE.
THE INITIATIVE OF MY GOVERNMENT WHICH MAY
HAVE THE MOST FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A ROYAL COMMISSION INTO HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS THE TASK OF THIS COMMISSION TO
INVESTIGATE THE STRESSES THAT SOCIETY PLACES UPON
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE, IN WHAT WAYS INADEQUATE
HOUSING, INSUFFICIENT MONEY, TOO MANY OR TOO FEW
CHILDREN, THE AVAILABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF CONTRACEPTIVE
COUNSELLING AND THE ADEQUACY OF MEDICAL CARE AFFECT
PEOPLE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. THIS COMMISSION HAS
BEEN ASKED TO PRESENT REGULAR INTERIM REPORTS AND HENCE
WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMING YEAR.
WE MUST HOWEVER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE INEQUALITY
OF WOMEN'S POSITION IN SOCIETY IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED NOT
JUST IN THE INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
THE SOCIETY. IN THIS RESPECT THOSE WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS
ARE CORRECT WHICH SAY THAT THE FIRST AND FUNDAMENTAL STEP
TOWARDS FREEDOM IS AWARENESS BY WOMEN THEMSELVES OF THEIR
REAL INEQUALITY, OF THE EXTENT OF THEIR SOCIAL, POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISCRIMINATION AND DEPRIVATION. ,/ 9
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I HAVE MENTIONED THE GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY
THAT THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS FOR DEVELOPING
THEMES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE YEAR WHICH WILL BE OF BENEFIT
TO ALL WOMEN IN AUSTRALIA, WHATEVER THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR
CULTURAL BACKGROUND, THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS, THEIR
OCCUPATION, THEIR BELIEFS OR THEIR WAY OF LIFE. IN SO
DOING YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TACKLE THIS
BASIC PROBLEM OF EMBEDDED ATTITUDES NOT ONLY BY
ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY IN AREAS
AFFECTING WOMEN BUT ALSO BY GIVING A SIGNIFICANT BOOST
' TO THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AMONGST WOMEN AND MEN OF THE
EXTENT OF THESE PROBLEMS.
IT IS FOR THIS REASON AND BECA'USE OF OUR
COMMITMENT TO CHANGE IN THIS AREA THAT MY GOVERNMENT
IS DETERMINED THAT SUFFICIENT TIME AND FUNDS BE
AVAILABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE ENDS AND IT IS ALSO FOR
THIS REASON THAT MUCH TIME AND THOUGHT WENT INTO THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE
WANTED, AND WE HAVE, A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOSE UNIQUE
EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF AND DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO?. AUSTRALIAN
WOMEN, THEIR PRESENT AND THEIR FUTURE.