WOMEN'S DAY THEME: KNOW YOUR WORK RIGHTS

Minister for Women Margaret Keech today announced the Beattie Government’s theme for International Women’s Day 2007 – ‘Women at work: know your rights, it’s your future’.

Mrs Keech said the theme drew a connection between the historical struggle for workplace equity and general women’s rights, and today’s similar struggle to protect working conditions.

“I invite Queensland women to stand together on March 8 to gain more knowledge about their workplace rights and protect their working conditions,” Mrs Keech said.

“Recent changes to the Howard Government’s federal industrial relations laws and the emphasis on individual agreements could set back the advances that suffragists made 100 years ago and that women have been striving for since.

“Whether women have been in the workforce themselves or not, protecting work conditions is vital for the future of their daughters and friends and is symbolic of other rights for women.

“As in 1905, Queensland women are now at a crossroads and International Women’s Day 2007 is the time for women to come together to collectively voice their concerns.”

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated each year by women around the world. It is commemorated by the United Nations and designated in many countries as a national holiday.

“International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s achievements but also to recognise the cultural, physical or economic obstacles they face,” Mrs Keech said.

“The celebration of IWD has been supported by the Queensland Government’s Office for Women for more than a decade.

“Each year the Office for Women supports IWD with free resources and an online events calendar.

"International Women’s Day resources and online calendar will be available in early 2007 via the Office for Women website at www.women.qld.gov.au/iwd or by calling Women’s Infolink on 1800 177 577."

Media contacts: Jo Whitaker 3224 2005 or David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534