Dear friends

Thank you for your huge effort in getting this petition seen and signed.  It’s taken off and we are hoping to hit 50,000 signatures soon!

There has been excellent news today.  An inquiry into workplace harassment and abuse in Parliament House will be headed up by sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins.  This is the first step into achieving meaningful cultural change.

Minister Linda Reynolds has also today issued an apology to Brittany Higgins for calling her a ‘lying cow’.  Acknowledgement that this language is completely inappropriate and harmful, especially the use of the traditionally female slur of ‘cow’ - is again a step towards a more woman friendly culture.

So what’s left?

We still have an Attorney General with an untested allegation of rape against him.  Whilst a ‘trial by media’ is not appropriate, it is imperative that a formal inquiry or inquest be set up to give the victim some semblance of a fair hearing, and to explore all the evidence.  As the Attorney General needs to be above reproach, and has had allegations of sexual inappropriateness levelled against him previously, we believe he should not work in this role until it is determined that he is of good character.  

We still have a PM who minimises rape and sexual harassment, and vehemently defends the rights of alleged offenders, without recognising the suffering and rights of victims.  He needs to apologise.   He needs to support an inquiry into the rape claims against the AG, and he must educate himself into the trauma inflicted by violent misogyny.  The leader of our land should be a women’s advocate.

So please continue to sign and share.  The pressure is paying dividends.  Let’s aim for a 6 figure number for International Women’s Day!