International Women’s Day
Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (09:55): This International Women’s Day, which has stretched out to a week, has been absolutely extraordinary, and I want to thank the amazing women who work tirelessly in my community and in other communities to better the lives of women and girls. I have attended functions in the last week with the Women of Wyndham, Brimbank City Council, the Parliament celebrations here – thank you, Speaker for coordinating that with your team – and the UN Women Australia’s annual IWD lunch, just to name a few. Listening to the rich, diverse feedback from so many wonderful women like Monica Raizada, Aishwarya Kansakar, and Ifrin Fittock talk about the intersectional challenges of multicultural women and what they are facing every day was absolutely enlightening and helped us in developing policy for the future.
Community events like this are so important in giving women, especially local women, a voice. I believe in working together to create a fairer, more equal Victoria where women and girls can thrive regardless of their cultural background, financial situation or religious beliefs. Can I thank the local women who do so much in our community, my community of Brimbank and Melton, and who lift me up every day. Women like Ranka Rasic, Deepti Alurkar, Dawn Clark, Elaine Sanij, Madonna Awad, Kim Truong, Anne Maree Kliman, Tina Heywood, Joan Ellis and Andrea Markham.
The SPEAKER: And many happy returns, Minister for Women.