A National Rural Women’s Summit brought together 80 diverse rural, remote and regional women from across Australia to Canberra for 3 days from 26-28 June 2008 to discuss issues important to them, their families, their communities, their industry and the wider rural sector.
This event was a response to the Prime Minister’s election commitment stating that the Australian Government will strengthen the capacity of rural women to participate in policy debate and provide quality advice on issues affecting remote, rural and regional communities to the Ministers responsible for primary industries, regional development, youth and women.
17 NSW rural women were given the opportunity to develop strategies and make recommendations to Ministers Burke and Plibersek to influence the future direction of their own businesses, industries, rural communities and state and federal governments. The NSW contingent included Professor Margaret Alston (Charles Sturt University), Wendy Bortolazzo (Rural Women’s Network), Carmel Cook, Margaret Francis, Lori Governor (Galong), Pam Krieg (Grenfell), Dr Jenny May (Tamworth), Anne McClintock, Susan Ainge-McLeish (Coonamble), Danielle Neves, Querida David, Bernadtte Yhi Riley, Robbie Sefton, Jorgette Sonter, Judy Thomson, Darriea Turley and Lyn Sykes.
Eighty two recommendations which were presented to the government’s representative, Kirsten Livermore MP for Capricornia, were generated from the following 10 workshop sessions: climate change, environment & water, women in decision-making, education, health, employment & business development, families & children, community building, reconciliation & new arrivals, young people, infrastructure, transport & telecommunications, training & skill development.
Key recommendations included: immediately declare a ‘national state of emergency’ for water guided by the principles of a ‘war cabinet’ with bi-partisan support; develop strategies to close the gap between the educational needs of rural and urban people; establish equitable access to health services for rural communities.
To continue building the positive relationships and facilitate future communication on the identified issues between our remote, rural and regional communities and governments a proposal for a National Rural Women’s Network was developed. Minister Burke committed $500,000 every year for 5 years for strengthening the capacity of remote, rural and regional women.
A comprehensive Summit report will be presented to the Ministers and will be available to all interested stakeholders.