Deputy Labor Leader and Shadow Minister for Women, Equality and Prevention of Family Violence Michelle O’Byrne has slammed comments from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison on International Women’s Day.
Mr Morrison said: “We want to see women rise. But we don’t want to see women rise only on the basis of others doing worse. We want everybody to do better, and we want to see the rise of women in this country be accelerated to ensure that their overall place is maintained.”
Ms O’Byrne said it was preposterous for Scott Morrison to use International Women’s Day to say there should be limits to equality.
“Australia has a Prime Minister who thinks that equality and equal opportunity for women will lead to oppression,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“Mr Morrison is effectively telling women to know their place.
“His comments speak volumes about a Liberal Party stuck in the 1950s that does not promote women and which is being abandoned by its female members.”
Ms O’Byrne said Tasmanian Labor stands alongside all women on International Women’s Day in the campaign for better balance at home, in the workplace and in society.
“Labor fundamentally believes in fairness and ultimately on International Women’s Day, we reflect on how far we have come but also remind us that there is still much more to achieve,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“In Australia the gender pay gap still stubbornly sits at 14.1 per cent.
“One in three Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. For one in five women, that is sexual violence.
“In Tasmania, the Hodgman Government is not doing enough for women.
“Since the 2018, under the Liberals Tasmania there are approximately 6600 fewer women working. That is 6600 jobs gone.
“Almost nine in 10 assaults in Tasmania are committed by someone known to them, the highest rate in the country.
“And after more than 430 days, Tasmanian women still do not have fair and reasonable access to termination services. And this is unlikely to change, due to Health Minister Michael Ferguson’s radical conservative views.
“Tasmanian women and girls deserve better.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP
Deputy Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Women, Equality and Prevention of Family Violence
