Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Good morning everybody. My name is Harinder Sidhu, I’m the First Assistant Secretary
of the Multilateral Policy Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I
want to wish you all a very warm welcome. Before I begin this morning I’d like to
acknowledge the people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, I’d
like to pay my respect to the Elders past and present and to extend that respect to
other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people present here today.
Ministers, Secretary, your Excellencies, distinguished guests. On behalf of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to you all to this event
this morning, to introduce and to have an opportunity to meet our newly appointed Ambassador
for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja. It is, of course, fitting that we hold this
event in the week of International Women’s Day, that’s a time when the international
community places a particular focus on the rights of and challenges facing women and
girls around the world. The Australian Government established the position of an Ambassador
for Women and Girls only in 2011, appointing career diplomat Penny Williams to the role.
Ms Williams held that position until about the middle of last year when she departed
overseas to accompany her spouse on a posting. Ms Stott Despoja was appointed on the 16th
of December last year and has already made her mark in the role and we will hear a lot
more about that this morning. So I guess from me as a per- on a personal
level, as a division head in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who is responsible
for gender equality issues in the foreign affairs and in the policy development arena,
it has been truly a privilege over the last few months to work for a Minister who is genuinely
engaged, committed and active on embedding gender equality into our foreign policy agenda.
Ms Bishop’s leadership in this regard has been unique and I am certain she will leave
a substantial legacy in Australian foreign policy. So without further ado, I might invite
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Julie Bishop MP to say a few words. Thank
you. [applause]
Harinder thank you for your kind words and for the work you do for Australia as a fine
representative for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Secretary, my Ministerial
colleague in Senator Michaelia Cash, my parliamentary secretary in Brett Mason, Ambassadors, Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
What a delight it is to see so many people gathered here today in the week of International
Women's Day. Now I think we should have a week to commemorate women's achievements and
the challenges facing women rather than just a day so we have functions throughout this
week to build up to International Women's Day on the 8th of March. So let's have a week
instead of a day! I'm particularly pleased to have the opportunity
to host this event to greet a very dear friend in Natasha Stott Despoja. She is known to
so many of you, but the role that she now undertakes will mean that she will be the
face of Australia both across this nation and across the globe in her role as Ambassador
for Women and Girls. The previous Ambassador Penny Williams did
a wonderful job as the inaugural Ambassador but I know Natasha Stott Despoja will make
this role her own.
About 12 years ago, Natasha and I were on a parliamentary visit to the Pacific and I
recall vividly our first stop in the Solomon Islands. At that time the Solomons was going
through a period of conflict and turmoil and the then Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
met with the parliamentarians of the Solomon Islands, all male, in Parliament House.
Natasha and I were outside and we met a group of women who were weaving baskets, doing handicrafts
for sale in the markets and during our discussion I will never forget one of the women saying
'there will not be peace in the Solomon Islands until we are in there' – pointing to the
Parliament House. And I've never forgotten that very simple but powerful message.
Now, as Australia's first female Foreign Minister I believe that we are able to put the challenges
facing women and the issues facing women at the heart of our foreign policy. Under a Coalition
Government Australia's foreign policy is designed to project and protect our reputation as an
open, export oriented, market economy. It is also designed to project and protect our
reputation as an open liberal democracy committed to values of freedom, the rule of law and
democratic institutions-and human rights and as Hillary Clinton once said – 'women's
rights are human rights'. We're also focussing on economic diplomacy.
Now just as traditional diplomacy aims for peace, so economic diplomacy aims for prosperity
and that means if you are to pursue these aims, women must be at the heart of your policy.
In our aid program we have brought AusAID into the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade so that we can align all our efforts within the Department – our resources, our
people, our creative thinking, our policies. And in the aid area in particular one of our
pillars will be relating to women. Over 50 per cent of our aid initiatives are directed
towards women. And there are three areas where we will focus: women's economic empowerment
– giving women access to resources, assets and finance so that women across our region
can take part in the formal Labor market, can be part of the formal economy and can
be part of developing economic growth in their particular country.
Secondly we're focussing on women's leadership – whether it be political, or business,
or community, or family. We want to empower women to take leadership positions at whatever
level, be part of the decision making at family, business, community, political level. And
third we will focus on combatting violence against women and their families and whether
it's announcing funding for a case management program in Lae in Papua New Guinea as I did
the other day, whether it's supporting women in Vietnam, across the Pacific, the Indian
Ocean we will be supporting the fight against domestic violence that affects so many women
and their families. I can't think of a better advocate for Australia
than Natasha Stott Despoja. Natasha came in to Parliament as the youngest woman ever to
be elected to Australia's Parliament at the ripe old age of 26 and she became a Senator
for South Australia so she and I have a bit in common there for a start, both hailing
from South Australia. Natasha proved to be a formidable opponent
for those who crossed her path. She was a very strong policy advocate, she introduced
many bills, she worked very hard in the Senate, all of the opportunities available to a Senator
she took up to promote the causes that were dear to her and for 13 years she represented
her party and her State with distinction. She is a mum, she has two children and a husband
who support her and she left politics after being the leader of her party. But she didn't
stop promoting the causes about which she feels passionate and that includes setting
up a foundation last year to combat domestic violence against women and their families
and this foundation was focussed on the domestic policy framework in Australia and initiatives
she could put in place to help women in these situations.
When I became Foreign Minister and I knew that the position for Ambassador for Women
and Girls was available to be filled, I could think of no better person than Natasha Stott
Despoja. She is a powerful woman, she is a great role model for all and already her voice
is being heard on the world stage. She accompanied me to the Pacific just before
Christmas and I observed Natasha engaging so enthusiastically with women and men, policy
makers, decision makers, from those running shelters to those in their Parliaments and
I knew she would make an impact. Natasha has also represented Australia at
an ASEAN meeting in Indonesia. This is the 40th year of Australia's engagement with the
ASEAN countries as a dialogue partner and we asked Natasha to represent Australia as
they focussed on some of the gender issues and gender equality issues that beset the
nations of ASEAN and later this month she will be part of Australia's delegation to
the UN Commission on women's issues at the United Nations.
I have a very full program designed for Natasha and given our focus on the Indian Ocean Asia
Pacific I'm sure she will be very soon a familiar face and a familiar voice in that region.
But her voice will be heard and that's why Senator Michaelia Cash and I both approached
the Prime Minister and asked that this appointment be made. As Michaelia will confirm the Prime
Minister was enthusiastic as soon as he heard her name and said 'yes, Natasha is precisely
the figure that we want representing Australia. She is precisely the person with the character,
the values, the interest, the passion to get across our message about the empowerment of
women and girls'. The Foreign Minister last year called me and
she said ‘Michaelia, the position of Ambassador for Women and Girls. There’s a name I’m
going to put forward, I’d like your reaction. Natasha Stott Despoja’. I think quite literally
there were squeals at both ends of the phone. We can do girly things occasionally. Quite
seriously though, as the Minister has stated, there was no other name. Quite literally,
Natasha just stands head and shoulders above others when it comes to her genuine passion.
But not only that, her record throughout her career when it comes to promoting gender equality
and the human rights of women both domestically and internationally.
I have the role this morning of formally introducing our new Ambassador, Natasha Stott Despoja,
to you. As we all know and as the Foreign Minister has already stated the Ambassador
has an exceptionally important role to play, both domestically and overseas. She is responsible
for high level advocacy, to promote Australian Government policy, and activity regarding
gender equality and the social, political and economic empowerment of women and girls,
particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. As you would be aware, and I think everybody
here does know, Natasha Stott Despoja – her achievements to date make her, without a doubt,
absolutely ideal for this role. Throughout her work as the non-executive Director at
the Burnet Institute Ambassador Stott Despoja has travelled to South East Asia to raise
issues in relation to maternal and child health. She has an enduring interest in women’s
leadership, being obviously a leader herself, particularly political and parliamentary leadership.
On a personal note for me, in my role as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for
Women, I look forward to continuing the very close relationship that I have with the Ambassador
in relation to her role as Chair of the Foundation to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children
and certainly the Ambassador and I have already had many conversations and many meetings in
relation to how we both can tackle this issue. As the Foreign Minister stated, Ambassador
Stott Despoja will play an invaluable role as she accompanies me next week to the 58th
Commission on the Status of Women and I can see here today some of the other people from
the NGOs who will also be joining us. Ambassador Stott Despoja also has a very important
role to play in seeking to protect women and girls in conflict and promoting the role of
women in peace building. As most people in this room would be aware, United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1325 and the suite of supporting Security Council Resolutions calls for an
end to the impunity of *** based violence in conflict situations and highlights the
need for promoting women’s participation in conflict prevention, peace building and
post-conflict reconstruction efforts and in fact I’ll be in Melbourne tonight as part
of my International Women’s Day events to address these issues. Australia’s commitment
to this UN Resolution has been affirmed through our National Action Plan in relation to women,
peace and security. As the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister
for Women, I personally look forward to delivering the Australian Government’s first progress
report on the National Action Plan later this year and to working closely with Ambassador
Stott Despoja in relation to the roles women play in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, enough from me, it’s now time to put your hands together and welcome
to the stage, Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja.
[applause]
Not so much head and shoulders there Michaelia, some of us are a little vertically challenged.
Good morning everyone. I begin, of course, by acknowledging the traditional owners.
I pay my respects to their Elders past and present and also to any other Elders from
any communities who may be present here today.
I'd also like to acknowledge, of course, the Ministers, Minister Julie Bishop, the Foreign
Minister of Australia, Minister Michaelia Cash who is the Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister on Women. To the other Ministers and Shadow Ministers, the Parliamentary Secretary
Brett Mason who is here. Indeed to members of the Diplomatic Corps and I look particularly
at that strong group of female Ambassadors in the room today. Thank you for gracing
us with your presence. Ladies and gentleman, members of many organisations here today and,
indeed, Shirley Stott Despoja, Mum, thanks for coming.
I also want to add to the comments by Minister Bishop about my predecessor, Penny Williams.
It would not be appropriate for us not to acknowledge her work today. I look forward
so much to building on the ground breaking work that she did in this role.
Thank you Ministers for very generous comments today. Thank you for your kind words, thank
you for honouring me with this appointment. Thank you for trusting me with this role.
And you certainly know how to host a welcome party. I also want to say thank you to the
many organisations, many individuals, many representatives who are in the room today.
Many of you have worked for a long time with great personal commitment in order to
advocate on behalf of women and girls, not just in Australia, but beyond. I look around
and some of you I know very well, some of you are dear friends, some of you I know from
former lives. Some of you I have looked up to, admired, been mentored by and have
appreciated the guidance and views. The doyennes of the feminist movement are here
today and I applaud you. I look forward to working with you. I look
forward to working with you to achieve our shared goal of a world where women participate;
women and girls participate equally in political leadership, in business and community life.
Live in a world that is free from violence, free from the fear of violence. Where women
can participate in business, in the workplace. Where women can play a role in peace-making
and peace-building. And were women and girls have proper access to education and health
services. Now when Julie Bishop announced my appointment
in December last year, I described it as my dream job, indeed it is. It's not often
a lifelong passion and a Government's core priority come together in this way. Yes,
my job is to promote gender equity and gender equality in the international arena. Good
job, hey? Sounds similar to some of your jobs I suspect. I'm not sure about being
the face of Australia, Julie, we need to talk later.
As you heard from the Minister, my work is focused across three pillars that cross the
foreign policy and the aid program. Women's leadership; women's economic empowerment;
and indeed addressing violence against women. And you've heard about the wonderful Foundation
to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children. Unfortunately Minister, I can't
take credit for establishing that. That was a joint Victorian and Commonwealth decision
and now receives the support of this Government and for that I am thankful. It's the dirty
little secret of this nation: domestic family abuse and *** assault.
My geographic priority is the Indo-Pacific region. A region in which Australia already
enjoys its closest relationships and where we can build on valuable partnerships with
women and men who are already working *** gender equality. Indeed, the day my position
was announced, as you've heard, Minister Bishop and I, I was honoured to accompany her to
the Pacific where we visited Nauru, Solomons Islands and Vanuatu. And it was a great
opportunity to learn first-hand from women in that region. To look at the obstacles
they face, hear about how they are working to overcome those obstacles. And also how
Australia is and can play a diplomatic and aid role in those areas.
So I will soon return to the Pacific to promote women's political participation. I will
be in PNG to assist with addressing violence against women. I'll be attending the APEC
Women and the Economy Forum in China to advance regional dialogue on women's economic empowerment.
But my first solo trip as Ambassador was only a fortnight ago to Indonesia. As Minister
Bishop said, I was representing Australia at the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and
Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, but also was engaged in bilateral activities
in Indonesia. And as part of that work, just out of Jakarta, I went to the Tigaraksa
District, just outside Jakarta, to meet with beneficiaries of our microfinance programs.
Australia supports these people, women in particular through the Indonesian Government's
National Program for Community Empowerment. And as a wonderful example that stays with
me: I met with Ibu Neng in her small, but thriving restaurant. (Yes, this multilateral
visit involved a lot of food I might suggest, a lot of sampling.) Five years ago, Ibu
Neng had a small catering business she ran from her house as a bit of a side line for
her work as a teacher. But since 2007, she's used five revolving microfinance loans to
grow her business into a successful restaurant and catering enterprise that employs 15 people,
10 of whom are women. Business has been so successful that she plans
to open another restaurant in a sub-district nearby. She's used the profits to put her
children through university. When Ibu Neng first received her loan and
opened the restaurant, she decided to call it Rajawali – meaning eagle. She said
her business was like a powerful bird, it had the body but she wanted it to grow wings
and fly. So the microfinance loans and a lot of hard work are now making that vision
a reality for Ibu Neng and enabling the dreams of many Indonesian women and men and the dreams
of their families to soar. I did want to emphasise though, that it is
wonderful to see the Australian Government place economic diplomacy, specifically women's
economic empowerment, at the centre of its foreign policy and aid program. Women like
Ibu Neng who I was talking about, they do drive economies, they do build peace, political
stability and progress. They're the best hope we have for a future in which everyone
thrives. Next week I look forward to supporting Senator
Cash at the Commission on the Status of Women in New York where many of you will be, working
to secure a future where the interests of women and girls are protected and promoted.
So ladies and gentleman, I know this role offers many opportunities to improve the lives
of women and girls and especially the poorest women and specifically those in our region.
I'm proud of Australia's efforts to work with and for the world's women and one thing
we all know is that anything that improves the lives of children makes the world a better
place. I'm honoured to be given the chance to contribute
to this work and I thank you so much for coming this morning. And I suspect everyone deserves
a cup of tea and a nice glass of water. Thank you Ministers, thank you Harinder, enjoy.