The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to increasing the number of women participating in governance and to addressing gender disadvantage.
Today, I was pleased to speak with participants in Unions Tasmania’s Anna Stewart Memorial Project, an annual work experience program for women aimed at increasing leadership and understanding of women’s issues.
The memorial project was established in 1984, a year after the passing of Anna Stewart, who was a long-time campaigner for women’s rights and an active member of the union movement.
As part of the project, I joined Labor Member for Bass Michelle O’Byrne and Greens Alderman, and chief executive of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania, Anna Reynolds in participating in a panel discussion about Women in Politics.
This is an important conversation that our Government is leading with our commitment to create policies and programs to achieve gender equality.
Not only did the Liberal Government appoint Tasmania’s first Minister for Women since 2006, we also elected the first female Speaker of the House of Assembly and appointed the State’s first female Governor.
We have committed to achieving gender equality on Government boards and committees, having recently released our Women on Boards Strategy 2015-20, which aims to increase the representation to at least 50 per cent.
Women make exceptional contributions to the Tasmanian community and it is important that we encourage more women to become involved in governance.
The Anna Stewart Memorial Project does exactly that, and I congratulate this year’s participants and all involved in facilitating the program.