Rural Women's Network

The Hon. AMANDA FAZIO: Mr President—

The Hon. Charlie Lynn: Mandy the miserable!

The Hon. AMANDA FAZIO: No wonder I'm miserable: I have to look at you lot all day. My question is addressed to the Minister for Primary Industries. Will the Minister update the House on how the Government is helping the New South Wales Rural Women's Network?

The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: I welcome the opportunity to update my colleagues on both the role of the State Advisory Committee for the New South Wales Rural Women's Network and some of the current activities and issues being dealt with.

The Hon. Duncan Gay: Mandy and Macca on breakfast radio.

The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: That would be good; we could do one of those duos. The New South Wales Rural Women's Network is a statewide government program within the Department of Primary Industries.

The Hon. Jennifer Gardiner: The Women's Network was founded by the National Party.

The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: The National Party did form a lot of things—it is just a pity it disappeared. The program has a team of two staff who work with a community-based State Advisory Committee, also known as the SAC. The committee is co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Primary Industries, Barry Buffier, and Elaine Armstrong from Wagga. The State Advisory Committee was formed in 1992, and its primary purpose is to act as a reference group and provide independent advice and strategic direction to the Rural Women's Network by developing strategies to address priority issues specific to rural women, promoting and advocating for Rural Women's Network initiatives, providing feedback on the effectiveness of the network's programs, being a consultative body for the Department of Primary Industries, providing feedback on the effectiveness of relevant programs and initiatives, and identifying hot and emerging issues for rural, regional and remote communities within New South Wales.

The State Advisory Committee meets three times a year and is made up of nine members, representing an important cross-section of rural organisations and interests. At its most recent meeting in Dubbo last week the committee welcomed its newest member, Ms Rebel Black, who comes from Lightning Ridge and will represent the interests of the State's Far West. As part of last week's discussions, an update was provided on the Premier's Rural and Regional Taskforce, which was established to examine and provide advice on key economic, environmental and social issues affecting rural and regional communities across New South Wales. Members of the committee have heard from those closely involved with this task force, and have been able to take this feedback home to their local communities and ensure that two-way communication occurs.

Other current topics discussed at the Dubbo meeting included small business and drought. Discussions focused on the survival of small businesses, as they are often the backbone of towns, providing employment and generating economic benefits to local communities. Supporting communities through change was also discussed. The group recognised the impact of drought on small business, resulting in reduced services and an inability to attract staff and professionals. There is a need to continually skill women to actively support themselves, their families and communities going through these changes. The group also discussed managing climate change, initiatives of the Rural Women's Network such as the Country Web newsletter, workshops and women's days. These are all important ways of supporting rural women.

I wish to give a brief overview on the work of the Rural Women's Network, which works hand in hand with the State Advisory Committee. The idea for this network originated in 1991, when a Rural Women's Conference was held in Parkes, and the network was formally established the following year. Rural women have identified a range of priority issues, and they include isolation, health, education, lack of services, and family and broader community issues. The network works with other agencies and groups to stimulate action to address these issues. The Rural Women's Network also works with rural women themselves—enhancing their skills, knowledge and confidence, and their access to information and support, so they too can stimulate action and address these issues.

One of the highlights of the work done by the Rural Women's Network is the coordination of the annual Rural Women's Award here in New South Wales. The initiative recognises the impressive achievements made by some of our most outstanding rural women and highlights the contribution of rural women to the New South Wales community. I applaud the ongoing efforts of both the State Advisory Committee members and the Rural Women's Network staff. I applaud their efforts. Kangaroos are an important issue in the bush. We are going to lunch shortly—[Time expired.]