ELECTION 2007: THE NUMBERS FOR WOMEN DON’T ADD UP
DEMOCRATS LEADER URGES ACTION TODAY AT A.C.T.U WOMEN’S FORUM IN SYDNEY
Women continue to be discriminated against by some male legislators according to Senator Lyn Allison, the only female leader of a federal political party, and the 2007 election will present a crucial opportunity to change the distorted make-up of the male dominated Federal Parliament.
“Women are discriminated against on a multitude of levels”, Senator Allison said today.
“Whether it be Bill Heffernan accusing Julia Gillard of being ‘deliberately barren’ or issues relating to childcare, paid maternity leave and reproductive health being sidelined, it is critical that the population realises the battles that are still being fought for women and how important it is to have a Parliament which is more representative of the actual make-up of the Australian population”.
Senator Lyn Allison, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja and SA Lead Senate candidate Ruth Russell recently joined forces to call for Australian women to vote for Democrats women this election.
“This election we are asking women in particular to support us”, Senator Lyn Allison said. “The harsh reality is that you can’t trust a male dominated parliament to fight for women’s issues the way women do. The only reason issues such as paid maternity leave and RU486 ever made it onto the radar of predominantly male legislators was because Democrat women put them there!”
The Democrats are leading by example with women comprising 4 out of the 5 lead Senate candidates for the 2007 election.
