WOMEN'S ELECTORAL LOBBY AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE can a simple statement of equality of men and women be so contentious? Australian women have been let down again. In a Preamble that acknowledges just about every other group that has contributed to Australia's heritage, women haven't rated a mention. Without vigorous intervention from the Opposition and cross benches in the next few days, Elizabeth Nicholls' 1897 statement will show that those that govern us haven't learned much in the last century. She wrote: Unless Australia is federated in the interest of women as well as men, our national life will be one-sided, inharmonious and dwarfed. WEL says that unless the Preamble to the Australian Constitution includes a specific statement on the equality of men and women, the clear signal will be that women's contribution to our nation is not considered worth considering. And Australia will be left behind again on the international stage. All other democracies that have revised their Constitutions since World War II have inserted the recognition of the equality of men and women. Most do it in the body of the Constitution, but a number do it in the Preamble. WEL considers it to be extraordinary that the leaders of Australia can even entertain the idea of Constitutional change without enshrining equality of men and women. What is it about equality of men and women that is so contentious? For further information contact: Helen Leonard 02 6247 6679 02 6230 2181 0417 499 387 __________________________________ NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION - CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEMBER and PHONE, FAX AND EMAIL YOUR MESSAGES TOMORROW (Thursday) to: GOVERNMENT - they have to change their mind The Hon John Howard, MP Prime Minister Tel: 02.6277 7700 Fax: 02.6273 4100 Senator the Hon Jocelyn Newman Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women Ph: 02.6277 7560 Fax: 02.6273 4122 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] OPPOSITION - they have to advocate strongly The Hon Kim Beazley, MP Leader of the Opposition Ph 02.6277 4022 Fax 02.6277 8495 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mr Robert McClelland, MP (ALP Member responsible) Ph 02.6277 4323 Fax 02.6277 8442 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] DEMOCRATS - they hold the balance - our equality is in their hands Senator Meg Lees Leader of the Australian Democrats Ph 02.6277 3991 Fax 02.6277 3996 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator Aden Ridgeway Ph 02.9251 5670 Fax 02.9247 7168 Senator Natasha Stott Despoja Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats Ph 02.6277 3645 Fax 02.6277 3235 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator Lyn Allison Ph 02.6277 3076 Fax 02.6277 3087 (fax) Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator Andrew Bartlett Ph 02.6277 3406 Fax 02.6277 3791 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator Vicki Bourne Ph 02.6277 3820 Fax 02.6277 3815 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator Brian Greig Ph 08.9228 3133 Fax 08.9228 3033 Senator Andrew Murray Ph 02.6277 3709 Fax 02.6277 3767 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senator John Woodley Ph 02.6277 3728 Fax 02.6277 3725 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] See http://www.fed.gov.au/house/members/mplist.htm for full list of MPs See http://www.fed.gov.au/senate/members for full list of Senators -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
