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Annual Report 1999-2000 In fact, during 1999 more women than ever before became members of the Federal Parliament and the Parliaments of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Three leading women politicians, all committed to the Republic (which went into limbo for a time following the failed referendum), were honoured speakers at the 1999 Annual Dinner. They were Senator the Hon AmandaVanstone, Minister for Justice (Liberal Party), Senator Meg Lees, (Leader, Australian Democrats) and Ms Jenny Macklin, MHR, Shadow Minister for Health and for Women(ALP). Women Into Politics was delighted to be able to bring these three outstanding women together at the one function. The Dinner was a resounding success. ProjectsThe successful series of three Regional Symposia in New South Wales that commenced in April 1999 with the Lismore Women Into Politics Symposium was concluded some months later. The Bathurst Symposium in July led to plans for the formation of new regional women's networks; and the Wagga Symposium in August gave us an opportunity to reach into that area and led to our invitation to the amazing Kay Hull, MHR for Riverina, to be one of the speakers at our 2000 Annual Dinner. The major project for 2000 was a two-day Conference on Women and Politics: More Women in Parliament and in Power! Not Another 100 Years of Lobbying! The conference was held at Sydney Girls' High School on 15 and 16 July 2000. An impressive program of presentations by our excellent speakers was much appreciated by all who attended. Wendy McCarthy was the keynote speaker on Equality for Women, Dr Larissa Behrendt (ANU) spoke on Equality for All Women: a Human Right, Sandra Grey (Auckland) spoke on Political Representation and on Changing the Electoral System, Elaine Thompson (UNSW) spoke on Reforming the Political Process, Kim Rubenstein (U of Melbourne) spoke on Women and Citizenship, Maire Sheehan (Mayor of Leichhardt) spoke on Influencing People, Politics and Events, and Julia Baird (SMH) spoke on the Media and Women in Politics. In addition, a number of women politicians and local government representatives were most generous with their time and attendance at the Conference, and they made speeches on issues and joined in discussion panels on the issues raised at the Conference generally. A broad cross- section of women from city and country areas attended, and a $1,000 grant from the NSW Department of Women enabled us to invite some young women and unemployed women to attend the Conference free of charge. During the planning for the Conference, the WIP Committee, aware that women want some major changes in the male-oriented political system and the male- dominated party power structures, made a decision to develop a draft of a Women's Charter for Political Reform. Women Into Politics policy has for some time favoured a Bill of Rights, one that covers all basic human rights and that expressly articulates the equality of men and women, and that can also be included in the Charter. The idea for a Charter was well accepted at the Conference, and it will centre around the issues raised at the Women Into Politics Conference and various associated matters. The draft Charter will be circulated to women's organisations for consultation and their comments before it is finalised and presented to the political parties with a request for their commitment prior to the next federal election. The draft is now being developed. OrganisationThe Management Committee of Women Into Politics has continued regular meetings in addition to the general meetings (held every two months since February). The commencing time for all meetings was also changed, from 6.30 to 7.30pm. I would like to record my appreciation of the hard work and cooperation of members of the Committee and of individuals and organisational representatives who rally around to form a team of workers when we plan our activities. In recent months work has been moving along on a Women Into Politics website, and it is almost ready for uploading on to the internet. Joan Bielski as Honorary Secretary has once again over the last year put enormous effort into the work of the coalition. Her experience, her vast knowledge of women's parliamentary history, her contacts and her networking skills have once again been invaluable to the organisation. We would like to hear from any person who would like to be trained in politics and organising skills by Joan and who would be willing to assist her in her work for the coalition. Valerie Levy as Treasurer continued to watch our finances carefully and acquired our ABN number when the new GST system commenced. We operate on a shoe string: funding of Women Into Politics comes from annual subscriptions, occasional donations, sale of publications, and sometimes margins gained from charges for functions and events. During the year, Judith Steanes took on the duties of correspondence secretary. The Women Into Politics database, which is important to us in maintaining contact with interested women, continues to be updated. Women Into Politics takes pride in representing so many major women's organisations in the struggle for equal representation. We value greatly the support and encouragement of our member organisations. We particularly value those organisational representatives who regularly attend meetings and work to make our activities possible, and we thank also those individual members who contribute time and effort. Donations and support in kind have been most welcome during the year. Women and social concerns have been rudely brushed off too much by our governments in recent years, but people and their rights and needs cannot continue to be ignored in the governance of our nation, and the full participation of women in parliaments and decision-making bodies remains a major need that will lead to a better balance in dealing with the nation's affairs. Letters have been written on a number of issues over the year, including, recently, the failure of the federal government to sign the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the government plan to downgrade the 1984 Sex Discrimination Act over a reproductive issue (IVF), and the disrespectful jibes aimed at Dame Beryl Beaurepaire by her own party's current hierarchy. Resources remain very slim for Women Into Politics, and for women's groups generally. Women Into Politics will nevertheless continue its program of education, seminars, submissions, publications, letter-writing, lobbying and the raising of issues relevant to its aim of ensuring equality for women and their representation in Australian public life according to their proportion in the population of approximately half.
Barbara McGarity,
At the AGM in October 2000, the following office bearers were elected:
President - Barbara McGarity | Deputy President - Judith Steanes | Hon Secretary - Joan Bielski
It was decided to co-opt some other members to the Committee as available and as permitted by the coalition's Constitution.
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