IMPROVING ACCESS
The Government is working to provide greater opportunities
for women's organisations to communicate effectively
with government and to access mainstream resources
in recognition of the broad impact of women's issues.
The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status
of Women has taken a number of initiatives designed
to improve communication and access between Australian
women and the Federal Government. The measures include:
A new grants
programme
Major Australian national women's non-Government organisations
(NGOs) have been invited to apply for grants for operational
funding in 1997-98. Grants of up to $50,000 will go
to a core group of truly national organisations capable
of representing the broad issues of concern to Australian
women at Commonwealth, State and community levels.
Women's organisations with a specific focus will be
encouraged to apply to the department or agency which
reflect its needs and Ministers will ensure that women's
organisations can compete on a level playing field.
Australian
Women's Round Table
The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status
of Women will host the Australian Women's Round Table
meeting on 27-28 August 1997. in Canberra. The Round
Table will provide an extended opportunity for national
women's NGOs to be informed first hand of government
policies and programmes and to speak directly to the
Government on the concerns of women in the community.
Women's NGOs are being consulted about the priority
issues for discussion. The extended meeting will allow
NGOs more time for networking and meetings with government
Ministers and other Parliamentarians.
National
Women's Communication Network
The Government recognises that information sharing
is vital to ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of both
Government and NGOs and has agreed to fund a national
women's communications network. This network will facilitate
the exchange of information between the Government
and women's NGOs using a range of mechanisms to disseminate
this information.
Parliamentary
Advisory Group
This group, comprising a Parliamentary representative
from each state and territory, was established to provide
feedback to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister
for the Status of Women on Federal issues affecting
women in their respective States. This is intended
to facilitate the flow of ideas and concerns of women
throughout Australia back to Canberra. The panel comprises:
| NSW
| Senator Helen Coonan
| ph:
| 02 9251 8966
|
| Vic.
| Senator Kay Patterson
|
| 03 9544 7411
|
| Qld
| Mrs Kathy Sullivan
|
| 07 5591 1011
|
| WA
| Senator Sue Knowles
|
| 09 481 0349
|
| SA
| Ms Trish Worth
|
| 08 8410 2669
|
| Tas.
| Senator Jocelyn Newman
|
| 003 341 755
|
| ACT
| Senator Margaret Reid
|
| 06 247 6444
|
| NT
| Senator Grant Tambling
|
| 089 9813 567
|
Information
on Women in Federal Parliament
The Government released the booklet Getting the Message
Through in December 1996. It provides information and
contact details on all women in Federal Parliament
as well as information on Parliamentary Committees
to assist women to gain greater access to the Parliament
and the Parliamentary Committee system. Copies are
available free of charge by calling Senator Newman's
Canberra Office on 06 277 7560.
Annual
Report of the achievements of national women's non-government
organisations
The Government is coordinating input into an Annual
Report of the achievements of national women's NGOs
to promote the valuable work which these organisations
are doing to raise the status of women. The Annual
Report will be published in both book form and on the
Internet to coincide with the Australian Women's Round
Table meeting.
Constitutional
Convention
Constitutional issues are a matter for all Australians,
and all Australians should be able to participate in
a mature discussion on the range of issues surrounding
our system of government and proposals for an Australian
republic. To this end, as promised during the election
campaign, the Government will hold a constitutional
convention in December 1997. The success of any discussion
on constitutional issues will depend on the breadth
of attitudes that can be engaged, and the Government
will be encouraging all interested Australians to participate.
As promised during the election campaign, half of the
152 delegates will be appointed to ensure that groups
which might not otherwise be adequately represented
are afforded the opportunity to participate, including
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people
between 18 and 25 years of age. The Government is committed
to ensuring that the appointments reflect an appropriate
balance between men and women.
