NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2017

CHAIR’S WELCOME On a side note, the 63rd CPA General Assembly approved the application from the Welcome to the second instalment of the CWP Newsletter for 2017. Federal Parliament of to reconstitute the Commonwealth of Australia Branch of the This edition celebrates the success of the CPA from 1 January 2018. We look forward to CWP Conference Melbourne held in greater involvement from our Federal August; ’s 2nd Stepping Up event; colleagues. Queensland’s ‘Smash the Ceiling’ event; the opening of the new Parenting Room in the Thank you to everyone who has sent in NSW Parliament; the 1st anniversary of ACT stories for the newsletter and thank you for all Parliament becoming a majority women the support we have received throughout the parliament; the CWP Report on the 63rd year. We look foreward to hearing from you CPA Conference in Bangladesh; the NSW all in 2018 about any CWP related events that Parliament delegation to Solomon Islands may be happening in your jurisdictions. and the appointment of Tasmania’s 1st female Speaker to the Tasmanian Cabinet. On behalf of the CWP Australian Region Steering Committee and Secretariat, I would In the new year, we will be looking to like to wish everybody a restful and relaxing provide some more up-to-date statstics summer break. regarding the representation of women in Australian Parliaments. Seasons Greetings! It was pleasing to see that the recent 63rd Michelle O’Byrne MP CPA Conference in Bangladesh included CWP Chair sessions and workshops which considered, ‘How can CPA Members work with their own governments in ensuring that the SDG goals have a proper gender lens to ensure success in the areas of alleviating poverty and women’s empowerment?’; ‘If we want genuine positive change in the world, we need more women leaders’. ‘How can we persuade the world that the future is dependent on gender equality?’, and ‘gender equality and the role of male Parliamentarians’. It was also pleasing to see a suite of supportive recommendations stem from these sessions and workshops.

CWP Newsletter - December 2017I Page 1 NSW Parliament’s new Parents Room

Earlier this year the Parliament of New accessible change facilities on the general South Wales opened a dedicated Parents’ access level. Room, providing a quiet haven for parents, carers and children amidst the The changes follow an increase in the bustle of the Parliament. The room number of young female members and provides much-needed facilities for the nursing mothers within the building and are care of babies and young children and is designed to encourage greater participation a welcome addition for both members of women in parliamentary and political life. and staff. The introduction of the Parents’ Room is one step towards ensuring the Parliament of The Parents’ Room is located in a NSW is family friendly and accommodating to repurposed office space with three members with young families, helping them adjoining and has been equipped with meet their responsibilities more easily. the facilities, equipment and services to make the space suitable and safe for As the first female speaker of the Legislative children of all ages. Assembly I am determined to remove the barriers to female participation that exist This includes two cots, a day bed, a within the parliamentary precinct. I thank change table, microwave, a kitchenette the former President, the Hon. Darwin MLC, with kettle and sink, two rocking chairs, the current President and parliamentary staff toys, books, play mat, television and who have supported me in this endeavour. DVD player with a selection of children’s movies. Towels and linen are provided For further information on the NSW and the room is checked daily by staff. Parliament’s Parents’ Room please contact So as to not disturb sleeping children the [email protected] or 9230 division bells have been disabled in the 2201. room and blinds installed to block out the midday sun. The Hon. MP Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly Members are able to keep an eye on the Member for South Coast proceedings of both chambers, which is broadcast internally. A workstation has also been set up in the room, with a phone and computer with the intention of allowing parents to work whilst their young ones sleep. The Parents’ Room is not the first measure taken by the Parliament to accommodate the needs of working parents. The NSW Parliament was the first state Parliament in Australia to be accredited by the Australian Breastfeeding Association, as well as the relaxing of protocols concerning young children on the floor of both Chambers introducing family friendly sitting hours and installing publicly

CWP Newsletter - December 2017I Page 2 Images of the new Parents Room

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 3 CWP Conference Report The 2nd CWP Australian Region Conference was hosted by the Victorian Parliament from 28-30 August 2017, and was attended by 60 delegates from the Parliaments of Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory Parliament and the Federal Parliament. Members from the Parliaments of Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Island and Nauru also attended, with support from the Australian Federal Government’s Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships program. Gender, Peace and Security spoke about Hosting the 2nd CWP Australian Region Political violence against women; and the Conference was identified as one of the key Hon. Mary Delahunty, Former Member of activities the region would undertake during Parliament and award winning Journalist the year in order to fulfil its aims outlined in spoke about transitioning to life the CWP Australian Region Action Plan for post-politics and potential opportunities 2017. for former female MPs. The themes for the conference were: Panel sessions were held including: Eliminating political violence against Session 1 - Empowering women in women; Leadership and Political Participation was Empowering women in leadership and hosted by Kirsten Mander, Chair, political participation; and International Women’s Development The need for balancing work and life Agency; Janelle Weissman, Executive through the implementation of family Director, UN Women National Committee friendly policies and practices in Australia; – Member for Parliaments. Maitland, NSW Legislative Assembly; Lisa Baker – Member for Maylands, These themes were developed by the CWP WA Legislative Assembly; – Australian Region Steering Committee, during Member for Molonglo, ACT Legislative its Annual Planning Meeting, held in Assembly and Faaulusau Rosa Tasmania in November, 2016. As a result, the Duffy-Stowers, first female Chair of the conference provided an opportunity to Samoan Parliamentary Committee for explore, discuss and analyse these themes via Finance and Expenditure. a series of presentations, panel discussions, professional development courses, and net- Session 2 - Family friendly practices in working opportunities. Parliaments and achieving a work/life balance was hosted by Ged Kearney, Presentations were given by guest speakers President, Australian Council of Trade including Natasha Stott Despoja, Chair of Our Unions, - CWP Queensland Watch, Former Senator, former Australian Representative, Lisa Baker - Member for Ambassador for Women and Girls and the Maylands, WA, along with Hon. Joan youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Viliamu of Niue. Federal Parliament, at 26; Jacqui True, Professor of International Relations and Two professional development courses Director of Monash University’s Centre for were delivered by Melbourne based CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 4 CWP Conference Report continued... university RMIT and focused on the strategy which is both engaging and topics of Social Media and Public Speaking, informative, and the importance of the Speech Writing and Media Performance. tone of voice for Members of Parliament. These topics were selected based on a survey of potential attendees conducted The 2017 Conference was jointly organised earlier in the year. The Public Speaking, by the CWP Australian Region Secretariat Speech Writing and Media Performance based at the Parliament of Tasmania, and session was hosted by Mark Madden, staff from the Parliament of Victoria. Deputy Director of the Centre for I extend my sincere thanks to the Innovative Justice at RMIT. Parliament of Victoria for hosting the event, in particular Deputy Speaker of the Mr Madden combined theory and practice, Legislative Assembly, Maree Edwards MP focusing on the Conference participants’ for hosting the Welcome Reception and to views about what they believe makes a all the staff of the Victorian Parliament for good public speaker, as well as their issues, all their hard work putting in place all the fears and concerns about public arrangements for the Conference. Overall, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for women Members of Parliament to get together and undertake professional development and networking opportunities, and I thank all those who attended and participated. Michelle O’Byrne MP CWP Chair

speaking. The emphasis was on encouraging the participants to see that speeches are more than words on a page and participants will also explore the elements of their ‘total communication’ package and the difference between writing to be read and writing to be heard. The Social Media session was hosted by Michael Simonetti who is the Managing Director of AndMine, an international digital brand and software agency based in Australia. Mr Simonetti provided the audience with an insight into what the Social Media Landscape may look like over the next three years, encouraging participants to evaluate their own social media use, and consider what they could or should be doing in the future. It focused on areas such as defining the demographics of their audiences, producing a content Photos courtesy of the Parliament of Victoria CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 5 Stepping - Up - Tasmania Report

Tasmania’s second Stepping Up event was held at Parliament House on 14 November 2017, offering a key insight to young women about what could be involved in a career in politics.

The event was hosted by the House of As- sembly under the guidance of the House of Assembly Education Office. Each high school in Tasmania was invited to send two female Year Nine students to the event. On the day, 49 female students at- tended from 23 different schools. In The event gave these young women some addition, there were 20 supervising insight into the work of female parliamen- adults/teachers present. tarians. Activities during the day included: a House of Assembly role-play, a mini role-play covering common constituency issues, The feedback from students and adults on observing the Legislative Council during the day was very positive, with over 95.3% debate, and a Question & Answer Panel of respondents rating the day as Discussion with seven female Members of ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’. the Parliament of Tasmania. Students said: The Members present included Hon. Elise Archer MP, Hon. Rosemary Armitage MLC, “Meeting the parliamentarians. They were Andrea Dawkins MP, Hon. Ruth Forrest MLC, very inspiring and have made me want Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Hon. Jacquie to become a leader and maybe get in the Petrusma MP, and CWP Chairperson Michelle parliament. Definitely would do it again O’Byrne MP. for sure.”

“The highlight of my day was the panel discussion with the female members of Parliament. We got to learn a bit about them as individuals and took away a lot of valuable information. Also the role play in the House of Assembly was fun and it taught us how it run in there a little bit.”

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 6 Stepping - Up - Tasmania Report ACT Legislative Assembly female continued... majority representation at 56%

Please contact the House of Assembly After the sad death of MLA, Education Office with any queries you have Candice Burch was sworn into the ACT about the event Legislative Assembly for the seat of [email protected] Kurrajong. This makes the Liberals party room majority female (6/11), the first majority women Liberal Party in Australia. Kimbra McCormack House of Assembly Education Office Further, with the swearing in of Ms Burch, the ACT Legislative Assembly has increased its majority female representation from 52% to 56%.

Office of Giulia Jones MLA ACT Branch Representative

Photos courtesy of Hon. Elise Archer MP

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 7

CWP Report on 63rd CPA Conference in Bangladesh

The 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentarians Conference was held in Dhaka in Bangladesh The CWP delegates undertook a day trip in in November and as part of the conference, Bangladesh and visited the site of a hospital the Commonwealth Women based one stop crisis centre which brings Parliamentarians (CWP) met together for a together counsellors, doctors, police and day to discuss progress on the strategic plan legal practitioners in a domestic violence and since the planning session held in February rape crisis centre on the one site. They also 2017 in Wilton Park, UK. Australian Regional saw a women’s empowerment training Deputy Chair, Jenny Aitchison MP from the centre teaching small business and work NSW Parliament attended to represent CWP skills to women and girls, as well as a major Australia. textile factory to discuss the conditions of female workers, including access to medical The key themes were empowerment and care, and childcare. preventing violence against women and girls. On a practical level, much work has been As an aside, there was a small issue over the done in terms of data collection on treatment of a female delegate at the CWP representation of women in parliaments, session by a male parliamentarian during the however there is still difficulty in getting this main conference (ironically just before the data from some jurisdictions, perhaps Male Champions of Change Session), and it because of a large number of by elections in was good to see a number of some cases! Please liaise with your Clerks to parliamentarians from all over the world ensure this data has been passed onto the supporting each other to ensure that wom- CPA in UK who are coordinating it for CWP. en were able to participate in the session as equals with men. Social media was also discussed, with some confusion regarding the Australian page and As always, the opportunity to meet with the International page. This has since been female parliamentarians from around the addressed by the addition of the word Commonwealth was inspiring and “Australia” on our page. Our page has a very interesting, and the discussions engaging and high number of likes, with about 705. The thought provoking. The increasing number international one has about 67 as at of women delegates is definitely December 2017, and we are encouraging our strengthening the representation of women members to like the international page as both in debates and topics that are discussed well. If you want to post things on the CWP at the CPA, so please keep encouraging your Australia page, please contact your local female MPs to register to attend CPA events. Branch Chair as they should have access as an administrator to post on your behalf. Jenny Aitchison MP NSW Branch Representative

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 8 Queensland hosts 'Young Women in 1st anniversary of ACT Parliament Politics' event becoming a majority women parliament

Former Queensland’s Commonwealth ACT Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarian Women Parliamentarians (CWP) represent- Representative Giulia Jones MLA and Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly MLA ative, Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga hosted an evening to mark the 1st Anniversary of MP, hosted the Smash the Ceiling training the ACT becoming the first parliament in Australia event to encourage 50 young women to to have majority female representation. break the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that often keeps women underrepresented in our parliaments in August.

Fifty young women from across the State converged on Parliament House for the day, hearing from Queensland’s women leaders, including Minister for Women MP, Shadow Minister for Women MP, Deputy Speaker MP and also the CWP National Chair and Each female MLA invited women from their Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Tasma- community to have the opportunity to share their stories, receive advice from other women, and to nia Michelle O’Byrne MP. celebrate and champion the work and diversity of women in our community and in our parliament. A panel discussion about ‘A Day in the Life of a Woman in Politics’ was also held which Guests were given time to sit in the Legislative included the Queensland Member for Assembly Chamber, ask questions of the elected members, and hear from special guests Kate Broadwater Verity Barton MP and Member Carnell AO, and Virginia Haussegger. for Lytton Joan Pease MP who is the new Queensland’s Commonwealth Women Par- The night concluded with light refreshments and liamentarians (CWP) representative. the opportunity for mingling and networking with MLA’s and other women.

Office of Giulia Jones MLA ACT Branch Representative

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 9 NSW Parliament delegation to Solomon Islands & PWPP Confererence

Parliament were identified as “reserved The Solomon Islands has a Parliament of 50 seats” in a first past the post electoral members, but only one of those MPs is a system. woman. Women have run previously in elections but have struggled to get elected If only 1 woman was elected through the due largely to the economic advantages of normal process, four more seats would incumbency and cultural issues. The nation be added to the Parliament and the four also has one of the highest rates of women with the highest number of votes domestic violence in the Pacific and there across all electorates would win those are high rates of sexual assault. Health and seats. education services are very basic and there is a relatively low proportion of people in paid In July this year, the Hon MLC, work, versus subsistence living. Clearly the Shadow Minister for Sport and Veterans issues of economic and political Affairs in the NSW Parliament organised empowerment are linked. There has been a delegation of NSW Women MP’s, key much work done in the last year to try and sporting women and a senior nurse to the provide inspiration and alternative pathways Solomon Islands. The theme was for girls and women into politics and to try Empowering Women in Sport and and work on empowerment of women at all Business, as well as coaching Solomon levels of society. Islands girls in netball as well as their elite national netball team. As part of the visit A number of other Parliaments in the Pacific there was a seminar with Solomon Islands have adopted so-called “Temporary Special sports and business women including Measures” (TSAs), where if a minimum sessions on: Empowering Women through number of female MPs is not elected, the Sport, Achieving for Women in women candidates with the highest number Government, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, of votes are elected additional to the normal Low Cost Campaigning and using social number of seats for the jurisdiction. TSAs media. have been proposed in a number of Pacific parliaments, but have not always been Delegates included the Shadow Minister adopted (specifically in the Solomon Islands). for Early Childhood Education and the There is still a chance this measure could be Hunter Kate Washington MP & Shadow adopted in the Solomons, but it would need Minister for the Prevention of Domestic the support of a majority of members of Violence and Sexual Assault and parliament which is currently not Shadow Minister for Small Business, Jenny forthcoming. Aitchison MP, Triathlon/Marathon Runner Jane Fardell, NSW Netball Chair In Samoa, where the TSMs have been Pate Cooper, NSW NRL Selector Kylie adopted, 10% (or 5) of the 50 seats in the CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 10 NSW Parliament delegation to Solomon Islands continued...

Mazloum, and NSW Health Nurse Linda the value for women MPs from countries Kelly. The seminar was quite successful in where there are few or even no other establishing relationships between women female MPs of having the chance to in business and women in sport in the network, share stories and work together to develop strategies to increase the Solomons and to provide case studies of where sport, local government, health, participation of women in political life. networks and small business can all work There are many strategies being used to to empower women. It is hoped that this encourage more women into politics across will be a regular event between the NSW the Commonwealth, and not all will be Parliament to provide ongoing support and successful on the first try. The Solomon mentoring of women who aspire to political Islands is a good example of a number of office. strategies being tried, not necessarily related to each other but it is hoped that The Solomon Islands and NSW are twinned with a sustained effort from a number of Parliaments which has been helpful in sources, we can work together to increase forging the links at the Parliamentary level the participation of women in parliament to be able to support such activities and and increase women’s empowerment to develop networks to ensure that likely across all areas of life. political candidates are targeted, and the Solomon Islands already run a women in Jenny Aitchison MP NSW Branch Representative politics group in the Parliament. The High Commission has also been integral in providing contact points.

The Australian Government hosted the Pacific Women’s Parliamentarians Partnership (PWPP) Conference in the Solomon Islands in September 2017 which was a good opportunity to build on the possibilities for women in the Pacific. Women candidates who had not been successful in being re-elected to Parliament in Papua New Guinea attended the conference and spoke of the issues they had in facing re-election. There was also much networking and support between delegates. It is impossible to overestimate

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 11 Tasmanian Girls Schools Alliance Morning Tea

Under the initiative of Hon. Elise Archer as my role as the first female Speaker of MP, the first female Speaker of the House the House of Assembly before becoming a of Assembly, students from the Girls School Minister at present”. Alliance in Tasmania were invited to the Parliament of Tasmania. 73 female students Kimbra McCormack representing the five girls schools in House of Assembly Education Office with 10 supervising adults attended the event Parliament of Tasmania held in August 2017.

During the morning, the girls had the chance to mingle with other students over morning tea. The Hon. Elise Archer MP spoke to the students about the vital role of women in Parliament. The students then participated in a guided tour of Parliament House. For many students, this was their first visit to Parlia- ment House and a wonderful opportunity to gain first hand insight into the work of female Parliamentarians.

Hon. Elise Archer MP has hosted the annual Girls Schools’ Alliance Morning Tea at Parliament House for several years.

Hon. Elise Archer MP said, “I had the privilege of speaking to them about my professional career and my journey to becoming a Member of Parliament, as well Photos courtesy of Hon. Elise Archer MP

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this newsletter

For more information, or to submit a story, please contact us: [email protected]

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 12 Steering Committee Contacts

Michelle O’Byrne MP Hon Kezia Purick MLA Chair CWP Northern Territory Representative Member for Bass, Tasmania Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Email: Member for Goyder [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Ms Jenny Aitchison MP NSW Representative Ms Joan Pease MP Member for Maitland Queensland Representative Email: Member for Lytton jenny.aitchison@parliament. nsw.gov.au Email: [email protected]

Ms Sonya Kilkenny MP Victoria Representative Ms Lisa Baker MLA Member for Carrum Western Australia Representative Email: Member for Maylands Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP South Australia Representative Minister for Disabilities Mrs Giulia Jones MP Minister Assisting the Minister for ACT Representative Recreation & Sport Member for Murrumbidgee Member for Reynell Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Hon. Elise Archer MP Tasmania Representative Minister for Justice Minister for Corrections Minister for Environment & Parks Minister for the Arts Member for Denison Email: [email protected]

CWP Newsletter - December 2017 | Page 13