Women's Electoral Lobby is a feminist non-party political lobby group.
For more information click on About WEL located on the top menu bar, and find out How to Lobby.
CLICK here for the excellent history of our political women by Dr Clare Wright, first published by Crikey.
Education and training including early childhood education, accessible doctors and affordable health care, retirement income and superannuation, domestic violence and aged care.
Click on Issues on the top bar. Find Industrial Relations and Paid Parental Leave. Child Care is always an issue and we will concentrate on this later this year. And go to Progress on the top bar to find out the progress made by the ALP Government since the 2007 election.
The latest happenings will be found in News & Events along with Book Reviews and Discussion Forum where we will post your ideas.
1. Ensure the costs and benefits are fairly distributed between women and men as well as between different groups of women;
2. Value and reward fairly people's different skills, experiences and contributions;
3. Recognise the value of caring and supporting roles, whether paid or unpaid;
4. Recognise and rectify past and current inequalities between men and women;
5. Enhance opportunities for both women and men to take on equal rights and responsibilities in all aspects of society: politics, community, employment and social life.
Where appropriate, does the current policy conform with UN Human Rights obligations?
WEL Australia has developed this policy framework which we all endorse.
To join these campaigns CLICK on Issues THEN Child Care, Paid Parental Leave or Violence.
At the bottom of each page click on "Send an email to your Member of Parliament", there you can automatically send an email to your local member.
WEL Victoria has drafted messages you may wish to send on Child Care, Paid Parental Leave or Violence. You may of course send your own messages - see the list of politicians' email addresses under "Links".
WEL Victoria has been campaigning for the decriminalisation of abortion - the Abortion Bill has now been passed in both Houses of Parliament - abortions up to 24 weeks gestation are now legal, and after that, may be allowed with the consent of two doctors .... 10 October 2008. Even though abortion is now legal in Victoria we must remain eternally vigilant about these gains.
WEL Victoria supports Ms Kristy Fraser-Kirk in her action against David Jones store for compensation for sexual harassment. Read more in our Issues/Discrimination page.
Our recent lobbying:
fair treatment for women in low paid jobs who are trying to balance work and family responsibilities;
fair treatment of women affected by the changes to the Industrial Relations Laws - see our Issues / Industrial Relations page for the latest studies by Sue Hammond who appeared in May 2008 before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on pay equity issues;
Federal Productivity Commission for Paid Parental Leave;
support the new Family Violence Bill of Victoria.
We will also lobby for accessible, affordable quality child care, and to deal with violence against women wherever it occurs. See our Issues page on Violence to read Anne Gunter's excellent article supporting the new Family Violence Bill and also WEL Australia's draft submission to the National Council on Violence.
LOBBYING GETS RESULTS: The Sex Discrimination Commissioner of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Elizabeth Broderick, has conducted an extensive Listening Tour throughout Australia and announces a "roadmap towards gender equality" in July 2008. CLICK here to read the full HREOC Media Release with proposed outcomes for women, all in tune with WEL's long-time lobbying..
AND MORE LOBBYING - The Federal Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the effectiveness of the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality. CLICK here to read the submission from WEL Australia.
SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING: In July 2010, Minister Tanya Plibersek announced that the total number of directors on Federal Government boards would comprise at least 40 percent women and 40 percent men. Individual boards may vary but the total must be 40 percent. We will be lobbying the next Government to amend the Corporations Act to ensure that all public companies also have at least 40 percent female and 40 percent male directors. Click here to read the WEL submission calling for 40 percent women on boards.
WEL Victoria Inc. will post information and actions on this website so that web visitors can lobby to improve the situation for women in the areas of social, legal, political, economic, educational, environmental and sexual equality.
CLICK on http://www.wel.org.au/ for the Women's Electoral Lobby Australia website to see national policies and information about other WEL groups around the country.
Click on WEL Australia social media sites: facebook and twitter: Warning: opens in new window.
Social media tools are a new driver of opinions (Blog, circa 1999, facebook , circa 2004, and twitter, circa 2006) . A clear definition is from Wikipedia 2010; "…social media is a blending of technology and social interaction for the co-creation of value…"
Send WELVIC an email on any matter important for women at welvic@alphalink.com.au.
Thank you, your opinion and ideas count.