Published Wednesday, 03 September, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier’s inaugural symposium seeks greater input for rural women
Roma: Premier Anna Bligh wants to further harness rural women’s ideas to achieve her Government’s Blueprint for the Bush aims to build a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland.
In Roma for the inaugural Rural Women’s Symposium – Liveability – A Women’s View - Ms Bligh reinforced to the more than 120 women from all over the State that it is the women in the bush who are the key drivers in their communities futures.
“You are uniquely placed to bridge the knowledge gap between what’s happening on the ground and in policy development at an administrative level,” she said.
“That makes you a vital resource. As representatives of your communities you have the knowledge, the capacity and the relationships to make things happen,” she said.
Ms Bligh said that symposium was an ideal opportunity to strengthen the ties between Government, agencies and the community.
Tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s symposium includes input from women from a high school student to women in their mid to late 70s.
“We welcome graziers, farmhands, teachers, indigenous community leaders, lawyers, mothers, businesswomen, students health workers… “
Ms Bligh said building a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland can only be realised when women and children are confident: “Not only of maintaining their lifestyles but of making their communities better places to live.”
The Premier highlighted the greater number of women in Queensland’s leaderships roles.
“In addition to the 31 women MPs in State Parliament out of 89, including 25 in my own party – five of whom are in Cabinet, there are 167 women councillors and 10 women Mayors across Queensland.
“In Canberra there are 27 women Senators out of 76 and 40 women in the House of Representatives out of 150.
“As well we have Her Excellency Ms Penny Wensley – a Queensland woman - who has just taken up the position of our State’s Governor.
“And let’s not forget Australia’s new head of State Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce is a ‘proud girl from the Queensland bush’ who officially takes up her post on Friday.
“We have come a long way and I am keen for you to have a say in our future,” she said.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
In Roma for the inaugural Rural Women’s Symposium – Liveability – A Women’s View - Ms Bligh reinforced to the more than 120 women from all over the State that it is the women in the bush who are the key drivers in their communities futures.
“You are uniquely placed to bridge the knowledge gap between what’s happening on the ground and in policy development at an administrative level,” she said.
“That makes you a vital resource. As representatives of your communities you have the knowledge, the capacity and the relationships to make things happen,” she said.
Ms Bligh said that symposium was an ideal opportunity to strengthen the ties between Government, agencies and the community.
Tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s symposium includes input from women from a high school student to women in their mid to late 70s.
“We welcome graziers, farmhands, teachers, indigenous community leaders, lawyers, mothers, businesswomen, students health workers… “
Ms Bligh said building a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland can only be realised when women and children are confident: “Not only of maintaining their lifestyles but of making their communities better places to live.”
The Premier highlighted the greater number of women in Queensland’s leaderships roles.
“In addition to the 31 women MPs in State Parliament out of 89, including 25 in my own party – five of whom are in Cabinet, there are 167 women councillors and 10 women Mayors across Queensland.
“In Canberra there are 27 women Senators out of 76 and 40 women in the House of Representatives out of 150.
“As well we have Her Excellency Ms Penny Wensley – a Queensland woman - who has just taken up the position of our State’s Governor.
“And let’s not forget Australia’s new head of State Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce is a ‘proud girl from the Queensland bush’ who officially takes up her post on Friday.
“We have come a long way and I am keen for you to have a say in our future,” she said.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500