Welcome to WEL Victoria
Women’s Electoral Lobby is a long-term feminist non-party political lobby group, established in Melbourne on February 27, 1972.
See our Issues/Discrimination page under Gender Statistics to find that our highest paid job for men is neurosurgeon at $577,674 but for women it’s a judge on $355,844!
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A FAIR GO FOR WOMEN – HOW?
* better access to quality affordable child care
* increase funding for education and pre-school
* government funded paid parental leave for all
* family friendly, flexible, safe workplaces, secure work
* better welfare system for women in poverty
* more access and funding for reproductive health
* more women on decision-making boards
* stop male violence against women
WEL VICTORIA STRATEGIES: WEL believes that fair policies are those that:
1. Ensure costs and benefits are fairly distributed between women and men;
2. Value and reward 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.
OUR ONGOING CAMPAIGNS including alerts on discrimination, violence and sexism.
Women have had enough of male violence in the home and in the streets. Lobby your politicians to end violence against women and children. Men must not turn the other way when they see violence, else they are colluding in criminal behaviour. WEL Victoria supports the new #ME TOO Campaign against work abuse.
WEL Victoria will lobby against the high cost of University fees. WEL Victoria urges the government to fully fund the Gonski reforms for better education for all Australians.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 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 changes to Industrial Relations Laws – see our Issues / Industrial Relations page for the studies by Sue Hammond who appeared before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on pay equity issues;
* accessible, affordable and quality child care;
* support the Family Violence Bill of Victoria which deals with violence against women wherever it occurs. See our Issues page on Violence and read Anne Gunter’s article supporting this Bill and also WEL Australia’s draft submission to the National Council on Violence.
LOBBYING GETS RESULTS – Previous Sex Discrimination Commissioner of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Elizabeth Broderick, conducted an extensive Listening Tour throughout Australia and announced a “roadmap towards gender equality”. CLICK to read the HREOC Media Release with proposed outcomes for women, in tune with WEL’s lobbying.
AND MORE LOBBYING – The Federal Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has inquired into the effectiveness of the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality. CLICK to read the submission from WEL Australia.
SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING – 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. We will be lobbying the 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.
What have our politicians promised?
Liberal National Campaign Launch: NIL funding for women’s refuges and frontline services.
Labor: New Safe Housing for Women programs to increase number of refuges that help women stay safe in their homes, as well as specialist women’s services.
Greens: 10 year $5 billion National Partnership Agreement on Domestic Violence Against Women to fund such services as crime phone services, women’s shelters, training for service providers and counselling.
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The International Alliance of Women brought the International Board meeting to Melbourne in 2012. WEL Victoria, League of Women Voters of Victoria and the Union of Australian Women Victoria were the hosts. See our News and Events page for the Proceedings of the Conference, the speech by Dr Clare Wright and some photos from the Conference. Read the excellent history of our political women by Dr Clare Wright.
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Visit 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.
WEL Australia has developed a policy which we all endorse: Women and Children’s Safety Program (WCSP). This program aims to keep women and their children safe. To pledge support visit www.wel.org.au/pledge_wel
WEL Australia statement covering key issues affecting women – click to read the document. Opens in new window.
Send WEL Victoria an email on any matter important to women at info@welvic.org.au.
Thank you, your opinion and ideas count.
THINK WEL BEFORE YOU VOTE!