PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER_] PflJEc ST. AT: MkENL NO. 394
4 !) uctombor 1974
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR
The Prime Minister today tabled in the House of
Representatives a statement prepared for the information
of the Parliament on International Women's Year 1975.
This statement indicates the priorities and
considerations proposed for determining the direction of
the Government's program and is intended to stimulate
discussion both within the Parliament and in the community.
The Prime Minister said that costed submissions
so far received total around $ 3.5 million. Some of the
submissions were in respect of projects which fall within
the responsibility of existing government departments or
other institutions. In such cases the National Advisory
Committee would not act as an alternative funding agency
but as a catalyst for positive response from these departments
and agencies. The Prime Minister added that on the advice
of the Committee the Government would be making direct grants
in respect of other projects; these grants would be made
progressively throughout the Year and he expected to be able
to announce the first set of grants within the next week.
These grants would reflect the areas of greatest need as
determined by the Committee. However submissions not initially
funded would be kept under continuous review during the Year.
Since December 1972 this Government more than any
previous national government in the history of Australia
has made a conscious and genuine attempt to overcome the
decades of neglect from which women have suffered, to give
to women and to men the ability to freely choose that way
of life best suited to them individually.
International Women's Year 1975 provides an
opportunity to stand back and assess what has already been
achieved as well as enabling the initiation of further
programs based on our deep commitment to basic human rights.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.