MEDIA RELEASE
WEL - OUT IN FRONT FOR WOMEN
If the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women,
Jocelyn Newman seriously believes her claim in parliament today that WEL is
a front for the ALP, she is sadly misinformed.
WEL is, and always has been, an independent organisation dedicated to
creating a society where women's participation and potential are
unrestricted, acknowledged and respected and where women and men share
equally in society's responsibilities and rewards.
Over the past 27 years, WEL has fearlessly lobbied on major issues across
the board and with all governments.
In fact, WEL has been just as unpopular with Labor governments as they have
been with Coalition ones. From time to time Labor ministers have felt very
unhappy about WEL's criticisms of them and their policies. WEL's
interventions with Brian Howe on social security and Peter Walsh on child
care are positive proof of our even-handedness.
The difference has been that Labor, sometimes reluctantly, continued to
fund the valuable work we do.
WEL was responsible for initiatives such as the Sex Discrimination Act,
child care, and many other social issues, raising them long before they
were picked up by any political party.
WEL has always offered analysis of policy and suggestions for new
initiatives to whatever government is in power. In almost all cases, this
has not found instant favour with the government of the day, but has
provided a necessary corrective to the often one-eyed policy that
governments tend to produce. WEL has not ever set itself up as the
intermediary that just produces consultations and comment from women.
WEL is avowedly not party political and boasts members from across the
political spectrum, although the majority have no party political commitment.
Today's assertion by the Minister is just plain wrong.
For more information contact:
Helen Leonard
02 6230 2181 - 02 6230 2979 - 02 6247 6679 - 0417 499 387
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