Wednesday, 8 March 2023

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:50): I wish to acknowledge the women of Victoria and wish them, especially the women who live and have lived in my region of South-Eastern Metropolitan, a happy International Women’s Day. I pay tribute to my mother and many women like her who have demonstrated bravery, courage, tenacity, persistence and excellence in their chosen career and in the workforce and who have paved the way for women like many of us to enjoy opportunities in society and in Parliament, many opportunities that were previously denied. Thank you.

With this, my colleagues and I pay respects to Dame Margaret Guilfoyle, an Australian politician who served as a senator for Victoria from 1971 to 1987 representing the Liberal Party. She was the first woman to hold a cabinet-level ministerial portfolio in Australia, served as a minister for the duration of the Fraser government and, sadly, died during the time of the Victorian COVID-19 lockdown period.

With so much focus on women, I hope we will also start to honour our men, given that many men in the past lost their lives in wars which were fought for our freedom. I hope we will one day also enjoy an International Men’s Day. I am glad to provide my daughters with hope and opportunity. But I also have two sons, and I want this to be a state which honours our boys and men and does not emasculate them or make them apologise for being born male.

To all our women, happy International Women’s Day. This is especially wonderful in the 60th Parliament, which boasts more women than men in this house.