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VIC: Isabel Schofield tel: 03 9882 8809 email: waa-vic@womensactionalliance.com.au TAS: Dorothy Kelly tel: 03 6247 8599 email: waa-tas@womensactionalliance.com.au SA: Maureen McCarthy tel: 08 8369 1357 email: waa-sa@womensactionalliance.com.au WA: Barbara Paterniti tel: 08 9752 2547 email: waa-wa@womensactionalliance.com.au |
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STATE CONTACTS QLD: Cavell Caldwell tel: 07 3353 1119 email: waa-qld@womensactionalliance.com.au NSW: Jane Beard tel: 02 9634 6990 email: waa-nsw@womensactionalliance.com.au ACT: Bev Turello tel: 02 6288 1736 email: waa-act@womensactionalliance.com.au |
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What’s Happening in YOUR State? |
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QUEENSLAND Recent news from the Queensland Office for Women was the announcement of the introduction of regional coordinators. These mobile staff (initially four with another six later in 2006) will replace the Women’s Infolink Offices in Brisbane, Nambour and Townsville from the beginning of May. Interesting to learn that staff on Women’s Infolink Helpline knew nothing about the closure of these offices which have played an important role in the networking and personal support of Queensland women and women’s groups. There was an article in the Office for Women booklet “Women” regarding the Superannuation Contributions Splitting Act 2005, acknowledging that Women’s Action Alliance has been the driving force in achieving this reform. After years of lobbying, it is great to have a mention! Superannuation seminars designed for women are being held throughout the state at the present time. There has been much in the press in Queensland recently regarding the childcare debate. It is certain to cause quit a stir. In an interesting article in the Courier Mail this week by Cathy Sherry from the University of NSW, she states: “Daycare debates should be no different from any other policy discussion about children. They should focus fairly and squarely on the children, not adults, and they should be aimed at ascertaining their best interests. Only then can we hope to implement policies that children deserve”. We hope that the policy makers are heeding that advice. SOUTH AUSTRALIA In April, Maureen McCarthy, Bernadette Davies and Louise LeMotti attended the SA consultation with Tanya Plibersek, Shadow Minister for Women. Tanya prefaced the meeting by talking about violence against women, the IR legislation and the welfare to work legislation. She then threw it open to discussion which was dominated by issues surrounding sexual assault and violence against women. We mentioned our concern about recent comments by Labour politicians on FTB |
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years to see if they develop asthma. . VICTORIA Don’t forget this year’s Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday, 30 May at 7pm, prior to the Agender Evening commencing at 8pm. (See insert). All Committee positions will be declared vacant and the meeting will elect President, Vice President, Country Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six Committee Members. Nominations to be forwarded to the Returning Officer, Joan Adamson, c/o the Camberwell office NEW SOUTH WALES WAA(NSW) will be holding its Annual General Meeting On: Friday, 2nd June Time: 8pm At: St Agatha’s School Hall Cnr Pennant Hills and Boundary Rds Pennant Hills. Our guest speaker will be Tanya Plibersek, Federal Member for Sydney and Shadow Minister for Work and Family, Childcare and Youth, and Women All members and friends are welcome. This will be your opportunity to raise the issues you believe the Labor Party should be focusing on at the next election. Elections will take place for all positions on the Executive. Supper will be served. |
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(B), saying we didn’t regard FTB(B) as welfare but rather as a matter of equity for full-time mothers. Tanya said that it wasn’t their intention to downgrade the importance of full-time mothers. We raised with her the numbers of mothers not in paid work and the importance of their needs being taken into account. and the importance of a properly funded Time Use Survey. The rest of the consultation ranged mainly over the dominant topic of violence. WESTERN AUSTRALIA A world-first trial on an asthma vaccine designed by Perth scientists has begun at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. The vaccine, which involves giving very young children daily oral doses of allergens in a bid to train their immune system, is touted as a solution to the condition, which affects one in six WA children. Peter Sly, from the Institute, said the treatment used the same theory as desensitizing in older children who were given small doses of allergens to stop their immune system overreacting. But in this case, children were treated before their immune systems had developed. The trial will involve 200 children in Perth, Melbourne and New York considered at high risk of developing asthma. The vaccine contains a tiny dose of house dust, grass and cat allergens, which are common triggers for asthma. The doses are administered each day for a year and the children are monitored for three |
