VIC: Isabel Schofield

tel: 03 9882 8809

email: waa-vic@womensactionalliance.com.au

TAS: Dorothy Kelly

tel: 03 6247 8599

email: tas-waa@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

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

 

 

 

What’s Happening in YOUR State?

TASMANIA

 

Tasmania is going through a very turbulent time at present coping with the welfare of children at risk.

 

Two years ago the Tasmanian Government appointed David Fanning as its new Children’s Commissioner. Mr Fanning came from a legal background dealing with children through the Children’s Court in Victoria. He showed empathy with children and their problems and the public was optimistic of change of direction with his appointment.

 

His appointment heralded a new era as his predecessor had actively promoted to outlaw parents smacking their children. This appeared to be her only major concern.

 

During his term the Ombudsmen Jan O’Grady had investigated the systemic abuse of children as wards of the state and in particular as residents of state homes. The Tasmanian Government has paid out million of dollars in compensation to over 170 complainants. 

 

As Children’s Commissioner he has conducted a review into the child protection system run by the state government. His investigation began after the deaths of several babies in unfortunate circumstances. The deaths may have been prevented had the department been able to cope with the large number of reported abuses. Many reports are made of child abuse particularly since the inception of “Safe at Home” legislation in which it is now mandatory to report suspected child abuse cases. Many of these cases have not been looked into let alone action taken to remove children from the offending abuser.

 

Sadly we are to loose Mr. Fanning back to Victoria as he is returning to a position with the Children’s Court in Victoria.

 

The Government had asked a former head of the department to be Acting Children’s Commissioner until a new one is appointed. Their choice caused an uproar as he had worked at Wybra Hall one of the Government’s foster homes during the time of abuses. He has decided not to accept the appointment.

not in paid work. It was apparent from other caller’s comments that more needs to be done to encourage superannuation funds to provide superannuation splitting arrangements for women.

 

 

NEW SOUTH WALES

 

WAA(NSW) has written to complain about a recent Advertising Standards Council ruling concerning a billboard advertising Lee Jeans. The billboard features a very scantily clad young woman lying with legs splayed, while sucking a lollipop.

 

The ad portrays young women as sexually  available, in a way which is both demeaning to women, and exploitative of young women in particular. WAA(NSW) calls on the Government to end the self regulation of the advertising industry, which has once again failed to appropriately respond to advertising which deliberately sets out to shock.

 

 

VICTORIA

 

The Victorian state election was held on November 25th, with the Brack Labor government returned. Some of the issues raised with candidates were the lack of access to the telephone helpline for new mothers, reinstatement of the $84 care registration concession for pensioners, steps to address the high rates of chlamydia and the unsuitability of weekend early morning TV music programs which are readily accessible to children.

 

Guests at our Annual Spring Luncheon found the talk by young Muslim mother, Aza Katan, informative and entertaining. A wide range of questions were asked of the speaker producing animated discussion.

 

Isobel Schofield and Pauline Smit attended the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre for the launch of a booklet dealing with the creation of family friendly workplaces entitled “Getting the Balance Right”.

 

Pauline also attended a presentation by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the use of information from the 2006 Census.

 

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

 

On Friday 27 October Maureen McCarthy participated in a talkback discussion on local ABC radio on women and superannuation. She used the opportunity to push WAA’s idea that the superannuation co-contribution scheme be made available to women