International Women’s Day
Mr TAK (Clarinda) (10:01): This year more than ever we should be recognising the diverse contributions of women. International Women’s Day on 8 March is a celebration of all women and a time to look to the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women right across the world. I was honoured to join some amazing leaders of women workers online on Monday night for a chat about women’s rights, activism and union campaigns in both Australia and Cambodia. Thank you to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA for hosting the online conversation, and most importantly thank you to Lisa Zanatta from the CFMEU and Tep Phallin Ou from the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation for sharing their time and experience. Phallin is a vocal and passionate leader campaigning for women’s and workers’ rights. She is currently supporting striking workers and union leaders jailed for protesting mass lay-offs by NagaCorp, who run Cambodia’s NagaWorld casino, with more than 1300 workers sacked, mostly women, and more than 60 days in prison for some of the arrested workers and union leaders. So I join the long list of international voices condemning the actions of the company and the Cambodian government, and I echo calls to the Australian foreign minister to maintain close engagement on this issue and to raise the arrests and charges at the highest levels of government.