Thursday, 19 March 2020

International Women’s Day

Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Public Transport)

Recently we celebrated International Women’s Day, and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some of the strong women of Melbourne’s west and the work they do in our community to promote fairness and equality: Laila Houli of the Newport Islamic Centre, Stephanie Payne of the Williamstown CYMS Football Club, Charlie Hetherington of the Williamstown Superules Football Club, Terry Bracks and Rhyll Dorrington of Western Chances, Lidia Neskovski of the Macedonian Australian Community Organisation, Therese McKenny of the Newport Community Education Centre and Carol Willis of the Williamstown Emergency Relief Program. All have different backgrounds and represent different sectors of our local community, but their leadership and contribution to our area is nothing short of outstanding.

I am proud to be part of a government that is promoting gender equality at the centre of its purpose. The Gender Equality Bill 2019, bystander intervention programs such as the ‘Call it Out’ campaign and the Royal Commission into Family Violence are each examples of this government’s commitment to improving gender equality.

We also know that change from the top is not enough and that grassroots community involvement is an incredibly powerful and essential vehicle in driving the reform we need to increase gender equality. I am grateful to all of the women I have mentioned and so many more who live in my community in Melbourne’s west. Powerful, strong women play important roles in promoting equality and fairness in our community and provide the next generation of female leaders with the confidence to be their best selves.