Women's Electoral Lobby is a feminist non-party political lobby group. For more information about WEL CLICK on "About WEL" on the top taskbar, and learn "How to Lobby".
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Women's Electoral Lobby Victoria congratulates Quentin Bryce on her appointment as Australia's Governor General. This is the first time that a woman has filled this highly respected post and we wish her all the best for success. We hope that women's issues will see an improvement in the future.
Women's Electoral Lobby Victoria also congratulates Australia's first female Deputy Prime Minister who took her special place in history on 11 December 2007. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has WEL's best wishes for that historic occasion and her future in the leadership of the nation.
Read the article at http://www.apo.org.au/webboard/comment_results.chtml?filename_num=266750 by Canberra academic and WEL member Marian Sawyer which has been posted on the Australian Policy Online website.
HURRAH --Go to our page on PAID MATERNITY LEAVE to read about the Budget promise. Send an email of your own to your politician to encourage them to bring it on earlier.
Find the latest information on Issues of importance from the top bar. The latest happenings will be found in "News & Events" along with "Book Reviews" and "Discussion Forum" where we will post your ideas. Under the "Issues" section, "Paid Maternity Leave" is the immediate issue. "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 Rudd Government since the election.
To join these campaigns CLICK on Issues THEN Child Care, Paid Maternity Leave, Industrial Relations or Violence then scroll to the bottom and CLICK on "Send an email to your Member of Parliament". You can automatically send an email to your local member. WEL Victoria has drafted messages you may wish to send on Child Care, Industrial Relations, Paid Maternity Leave and Violence. You may of course send your own messages - see the list of politicians' email addresses under "Links".
We had a big event at Brunswick Town Hall on 12 April 2008 to celebrate 100 years of the vote for Victorian women! "Conversation: Launch". This event spoke of women's social and political engagement through the insights of artist, composers, League of Women Voters, RMIT University students and Women's Electoral Lobby Victoria. The 'Conversation' spoke of communication tools that women have utilized to evoke awareness of women's suffrage and persistent struggle for equity in Victoria. Another "Conversation" was held at the Gasworks Art site in Albert Park and was well attended.
Further suffrage events were - WIRE DVD Launch at QVWC, 10 Nov., Launch of Victorian Historical Journal on women's suffrage at Storey Hall, 17 Nov., Shilling Event at QVWC, 18 Nov.
Finale of the Suffrage Year with WEL: Open Day at Parliament House and gardens, 23 Nov. Click here to see the WEL stand with our WEL Convenor Kerry Lovering and WEL Officer Mary Owen in attendance.
Our recent lobbying includes:-
We are now lobbying for Paid Maternity Leave. Send an email to your Federal politician (see Issues) or to the Productivity Commission at parentalsupport@pc.gov.au with your opinions.
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.
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.
Send us an email on any matter important for women at welvic@alphalink.com.au.
Congratulations: Our WEL Convenor, Kerry Lovering, received an Order of Australia Medal in the 2008 Australia Day Honours and we congratulate her for this award and for her life of service to women. See our Go Girl page in the News Section for her achievements and CLICK here to read The Age article about it all.
Obituary: An early and very active member of WEL Victoria, Shirley Sampson, died recently and we mourn the passing of one of our WEL pioneers.
