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Women to speak out on Australia
SYDNEY: One in every five
children is being forced to live
below the poverty line, according
Jo the organiser of a nationwide
series of "Spcak-Outs" designed
to give women a say in the future
of Australia.
The forums are the brainchild
of Joycc Thurgood, the national
president of the Association of
Civilian Widows of Australia
and executive member of the
National Women's Consultative
Council.
"In Mr Hawkc's speech on the
National Agenda for Women,
made in November, he said all
women should have three things
— a choice, a say, and a fair go,"
she said. "Wc arc hoping these
spcak-outs wilt give at least the
first two with the recommenda
tions coming from them resulting
in the third."
The greatest problem was pov
erty. "Poverty in Australia is not
visible as it is in Third World
countries, where it is easily seen,"
she said.
"It concerns me that here one
in every five children lives below
the poverty line, which means
they have an inadequate diet,
inadequate housing and no equal
opportunity for education. They
will never escape this. It will stay
with them for the rest of their
lives, which means that in (lie
end Australian socicty is the one
that suffers.
"It is up to all women to do
something about this and other
issues."
Each speak-out would have
several speakers from various
women's groups such as Status of
Women and key figures from
various Goverment departments
and committees.
Other topics would cover ine
quality in education and the
workforce and women in govern
ment. The speak-outs begin in
Sydney on February' 6, followed
by one in Perth in April, Adelaide
in April 22, and Melbourne May
16.
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