ANNUAL REPORT 2002 – 2003

(delivered 7 October 2003)

• The Year 2002-2003
• Elections
• Recognition of Joan Bielski's contributions
• Annual Dinner
• Committee

Women Into Politics, a non-party political coalition of women’s organisations, has concluded its eleventh year of operation, pleased that there are more women in our Parliaments than when the organisation commenced operations in 1992, but unhappy that the situation of women and their representation has been diminished in many important areas in recent years.

The major political parties are now very demanding of “loyalty” from their parliamentary and factional members, which means that members are expected not to speak out in public, or indeed in the party room, but instead to toe the party line espoused by leaders, regardless of their own considered views. This must make it difficult for ordinary members of parliament to contribute anything at all and even junior ministers, but especially women members.

The community’s perceptions of an uncaring and corrupt system are fuelled by the secrecy now surrounding much government decision making. These issues threaten the fabric of our democracy. It has come to be recognised by many women and by Women Into Politics that the women elected to parliaments need to be not pale imitations of men seeking preferment, but active and talented women with a full understanding of the influence that feminist principles and women’s interests should generally exert in balanced decision making for the Australian population.

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The Year 2002-2003

The Women Into Politics coalition of women’s organisations continued with its aim to increase the numbers of women in Australian parliaments through education, seminars, letter-writing, and lobbying the political parties.

Following the NSW Parliamentary elections in March 2003, Women Into Politics wrote a letter to all NSW women Members in both Upper and Lower Houses, congratulating them on their election, and asking them to be more active and public in promoting women’s welfare and in scrutinising government policies, programs and government priorities as expressed in annual budgets. For example, we pointed out the discrepancy between the $17m that was allocated to the Department of Sport and Recreation and only $5m allocated to the Department for Women. We also asked the Members to be active in their parties in fostering probity and equity in the political process, as we are concerned that women may be discouraged from seeking political office.

We concluded the letter to women parliamentarians by saying:
“Women Into Politics expects you to lobby within the Parliament for big increases in the Department for Women’s 2003-04 budget and the budget figure for the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board; and for a review of budget priorities.”
“Women Into Politics asks that . . . you will inform yourself of the disadvantages many women continue to experience, that you will be mindful of the impact of public policy on women, that you will raise these matters in your party, and that you will use your influence in your party and in the NSW Parliament to help restore the public’s faith in our political system. Women in New South Wales are owed nothing less.”

The NSW Government’s failure to support the Dept for Women and the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, and the cutting their budgets, plus its failure to appoint a new President of the Board since early 2003, suggest that women and their needs are not a priority of the Carr Government.

In 2003, the percentage of women in the Federal Parliament was 26.5%, up from 25.4% in 1988 and from 10% in 1993. In the composition of Federal Parliament by parties, women are:
Liberal Party – 31 women or 23.7% of Liberals, National Party – 2 women or 12.5% of Nationals, ALP – 31 women or 33.7% of ALP, Australian Democrats – 2 women or 28.6% of Democrats, Greens – 1 woman or 33.3% of Greens.
In the Interparliamentary Union figures on women in Lower Houses in 181 countries, Sweden with 41.5% women was first, and Australia with 25.3% women was twenty-third. Despite the improvements representation of women in Australia, much more needs to be done to get suitable women into parliaments in numbers nearer to 50%, and the male powerbrokers in the parties will need to be actively involved in achieving that gender balance.

In April 2003, the percentage of women elected to the NSW Parliament was at 26.9% (close to the federal figure), more only than in Tasmania (25%) and Western Australia (25.3%); but less than in the other states and territories (ACT - 41.2%, Queensland – 37.1%, South Australia 31.9%, Victoria 30.3%, and NT – 28%).

The 2001 publication of . A Women’s Charter for Political Reform: a charter for political equality for women and for good government for all Australian citizens. remains a relevant commentary on Australian politics providing ideas for change. We note the continuing disillusionment of the electorate, and especially of women, with the conduct of political parties, and the downgrading of women’s priorities and women’s issues.

The Women Into Politics 2001 publication brought together a wide range of issues in a careful fashion that could still serve as a blueprint for change in Australian politics, although obvious amendments and additions to the publication are now in order. During 2003, the promotion of the ideas in the Women’s Charter continued.

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Elections

At the March 2003 NSW election, the ALP Government was returned as expected and went on with business as usual. Members elected included 26.9% of women, and of the 21 ministers in the Carr Government, only four (or 19%) are female.

Under the current conservative Howard government, re-elected in late 2002 (see percentages of women above), in a government highly controlled from the male-dominated top, women have continued to suffer setbacks, such as the refusal to act on the paid maternity leave issue, even though this issue had developed into the most important priority for women and a reasonable compromise had been reached by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner among proposals under consideration.

With the NSW local government elections now due in March 2004 (after being postponed from their original September 2003 date), arrangements by Women Into Politics for a series of seminars to encourage women to seek election to local government have been revised for presentation in October/November 2003. It is planned that experienced women local government councillors and managers, speaking from their own experience, will provide women participants with information about the process of organising for election and about council processes. In NSW, since the 1999 election, women have been 26% of all councillors but only 15% of mayors. Twenty-eight NSW councillors are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

It would be pleasing to see the major parties make some effort to consult and capture the women’s vote before the federal election due by November 2004. It has been difficult to actually gain a hearing for women and their lobby groups from both the Government and the Opposition, the latter crippled by its leadership squabbles. In the runup to the next election, we will hope to gain opportunities to present women’s views.

At time of writing, there is in progress an election within the ALP for its national president. Simon Crean’s changes to the procedure mean that a president and two vice-presidents will be elected, and the three will each have one year as president during the three-year term. A large number of persons have nominated for this election, including Carmen Lawrence, who had been quoted in the press as a front runner. Whether this new procedure will contribute to an improvement in the ALP’s management and its standing in the electorate remains to be seen.

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Recognition of Joan Bielski’s Contributions.

Following WIP’s nomination of Joan Bielski for Australian of the Year, Joan was recognised as the NSW Finalist for Senior Australian of the Year 2003 with an award by the NSW Governor in January 2003.

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Annual Dinner

The Women Into Politics Annual Dinner in October 2002 was held at the University of Sydney Women’s College, where Ms Quentin Bryce, Principal of the College, made us very welcome. Ms Bryce has since become Governor of Queensland, and Women Into Politics was delighted to congratulate her on her appointment to this high office.

The Women Into Politics Annual Dinner for 2003 is to be held at the end of November, and it will incorporate a celebration of the 80th birthday of Joan Bielski, Honorary Secretary of Women Into Politics since its commencement in 1992. Joan has a long history of service to women, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to honour her on this occasion. Thanks are due to Judith Steanes and Anne Barber for the special arrangements that they have made for speeches and a display of materials at the Dinner, related to Joan’s life and service.

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Committee

I would like to thank the members of the Women Into Politics Committee for their support. A review was undertaken during the year of the organisation’s modes of operation, and decisions were made for some changes, including such enhancements as a greater use of email for communication among members of the committee. As procedures are updated, members will continue to be kept informed by regular mailouts, or by email if they prefer and supply an email address.

Joan Bielski continued as Honorary Secretary in the first year of the second decade of Women Into Politics, Valerie Levy continued as our efficient Honorary Treasurer, and we were pleased to have Anna Logan as our Honorary Auditor again. Deputy President Judith Steanes took on added duties during the year and continued also as correspondence secretary. All members of the committee provided valuable support throughout the year.

 

Barbara McGarity
President, Women Into Politics

7 October 2003