Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Southern Women’s Action Network

Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (09:55): It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the members of SWAN who are in Parliament today. Welcome to you all. Since 1996 SWAN have been a group of progressive women on the Mornington Peninsula – the Southern Women’s Action Network. They have increased women’s active involvement in community decision-making and have taken action to address social justice and equity concerns. It was an audacious move, as the local area was conservative blue. These women who wanted to see change sought out like-minded women and got on with the job of creating change in their part of the world.

It is worth acknowledging that the first speaker at a SWAN bimonthly meeting was the Honourable Joan Kirner. The room was full. From that day onwards the women of SWAN have continued to meet and take action. For over 30 years SWAN has hosted over 160 meetings, featuring women speakers from all walks of life and experiences and from various backgrounds and beliefs. I have been fortunate enough to join a number of SWAN meetings, particularly with a focus on housing on the peninsula. I have experienced firsthand and I have heard from SWAN members about the incredible friendships that have been formed through the group amongst like-minded women.

SWAN campaigns have included action to support human rights, gender equity, family violence victims, First Nations people, the environment and recently housing justice. From what I have seen, the women of SWAN never give up. Congratulations to the hundreds of amazing SWAN women, whose quest for social justice in their community has been successful and transforming.