-1. ASII( A
PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
PRESENTATION OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE BANNER
THE LODGE 8 MARCH 1988
Margaret Reynolds,
Jim Kirk,
Edith Hall.
I am happy to see this banner handed over to the women of
Australia today.
Its significance is far greater than its historical
importance. It reminds us that Australian women have conducted a
struggle for equality of opportunity over more than eight
decades.
And just as Australian women were in the forefront of the
achievement of franchise rights in the first decade of this
century, they are still trailblazing as we approach the
twenty-first century.
Because since the Suffrage march in 1908, for which this
banner was painted, Australian women have continued marching
in figurative and in literal terms.
And if the women who marched in 1908 could see how far their
cause has prcogressed today, I believe they could only be
impressed. The women's movement is a story of progress from the margins
to the mainstream from rejection to. acceptance as a
legitimate and indeed an invaluable force for change and
reform of Australian society.
Australian women were trailblazers in their fight for social
reform. They led the world by winning the right to vote in
Federal elections in 1902.
There was perhaps a lull in social reform for women after
the Second World war that lasted until the 004900
But when the Women's liberation movement did arrive, it came
as an intense and sophisticated political movement.
Since coming to power my Government has kept up the momentum
of change. We are constantly developing policies and
programs to help improve their st'atus in all spheres of
society whether they choose to rlive and work in the home
or to pursue a career in the paid workforce.
only last week, I had the honour of launching the National
Agenda for Women, which sets out the Government's
achievements to date and our strategy for the future. It is
the most detailed, practical and comprehensive strategy ever
produced by an Australian government to achieve equality of
opportunity in Australia.
I believe it will be remembered as one of my Government's
most important achievements. It further opens the way to a
more adequate utilisation of the economic potential of
women; and it represents as well a substantial demonstration
of our commitment to fairness and equality of opportunity in
our society.
In preparing the National Agenda, this Government sought the
views of Australian women to an unprecedented extent and we
are responding, to an equally unprecedented degree, to their
expressed needs.
The National Agenda provides detailed action plans for the
next five years and specific objectives to take us through
to the end of the century.
The National Women's Consultative Council played a large
part in the National Agenda consultations, conducting
meetings and inviting submissions.
The Council is the Government's major means of consulting
with Australian women. I take this opportunity to applaud
the efforts of its members and to pay tribute to the
tireless commitment of its cdnvenor Edith Hall.
I believe that just as the women who marched in the Women's.
Suffrage march Jp 1908 were part of' a movement that is a
historical watershed for women so too will the National
Agenda for Womenm be seen as an historical milestone for
future Australians.
This banner is a tangible symbol of the earier struggles for
Suffrage. Today, it serves to remind us that while a great
deal of progress has been made, much more still remains to
be done. .1 it. 004901