Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and Christine Holgate join forces for sexual equality campaign

The PM’s most prominent female critics have joined forces to demand women’s equality on the brink of the federal election.  

A who’s who of some of the nation’s most prominent female critics of Prime Minister Scott Morrison have joined forces in a powerful new campaign to demand equality for women on the brink of the 2022 election campaign.

Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and former Australia Post executive Christine Holgate have joined forces to launch a new campaign for equal pay and an end to injustice and inequity for women and children.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the group of women across the political spectrum, including Lucy Hughes Turnbull, have released a powerful new campaign calling for greater access to free childcare and promising to “make some noise” during the federal election.

During the video, Christine Holgate who was forced out of her job after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if she didn‘t want to stand down “she can go” says she was “bullied out of my job”.

Child sex abuse advocate Grace Tame. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

Mr Morrison has previously accepted that “my language on that day was very strong” and caused “a very strong reaction from Ms Holgate and hurt her deeply”, but declined to apologise.

“There have been countless reviews, inquiries, promises, conferences and bodies established to assess and report on the inequity and injustice women face, but there has been no meaningful change,” Ms Holgate said.

“We will not accept this any longer, and we’re asking all Australians to join us in demanding
real action.”

Christine Holgate at the National Press Club in Canberra to listen to Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame speak. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

The group also includes ACTU President Michele O’Neil, businesswoman Wendy McCarthy, consent activist Chanel Contos, Paralympic gold medallist Madison de Rozario, academic Larissa Behrendt, youth advocate Yasmin Poole and The Parenthood executive director Georgie Dent, as well as former MP Julia Banks.

Ms Banks has previously come forward with allegations that she was sexually harassed by an unnamed Liberal Minister during her time as a Liberal MP.

The ad campaign was filmed on the same day that Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins addressed the National Press Club.

“We write to seek your support to end the injustice and inequity for women and children in our country,” the open letter states.

“2021 wasn’t the first year that women in Australia were harassed or unsafe or ignored or disrespected.

“It wasn’t even the first year that women spoke up about these things. But in 2021 more Australians started to listen to women of different ages, occupations and beliefs, who stood up and spoke out, exposing discrimination, harassment, sexism, disrespect andintimidation.

Brittany Higgins will play a large role in the campaign. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

“And the more people listened, the more familiar the story became. One in five women in Australia will be sexually assaulted or raped in her lifetime. One in three women will face sexual harassment in the workplace.

“If you’re a First Nations woman, a woman of colour, have a disability or identify as LGBTIQ+, those statistics are even worse. These are not statistics we can accept. We can – and must – change them.

“Over the years there have been countless reviews, inquiries, promises, conferences and bodies established to assess and report on the inequity and injustice women face, but there has been no meaningful change.

“Enough is enough. We are tired of empty promises. Every woman in Australia deserves access to a safe place to work, a safe place to live, fair and equal pay, quality free early learning & care, and a justice system that works for survivors.”

The group are calling for a range of reforms including:

● Preventing sexual harassment and bullying. (Implement all 55 recommendations inthe Respect@Work report including a positive duty on employers.)

● 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.

● Acting on the National Plan for First Nations Women and Girls (Support & fund the 7recommendations in the 2020 Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report)

● Ensuring effective employment programs for women with disability.

● Stronger, consistent child sexual assault laws.

● Eliminating the gender pay gap including necessary legal reform.

● Free, accessible and quality early childhood education and care.

● Expanding paid parental leave.

● Embedding respectful relationships and consent education everywhere includingschools, universities, workplaces and homes.

The letter is signed by Brittany Higgins, Lucy Hughes Turnbull, Wendy McCarthy, Grace Tame, Madison de Rozario, Yasmin Poole, Julia Banks, Michele O’Neil Chanel Contos, Christine Holgate, Larissa Behrendt and Georgie Dent.

Ms Dent said the women shared a sense of collective anger and frustration at a lack of progress in improving respect and safety for women.“We are tired of empty promises,” Ms Dent said.

“Every woman in Australia deserves accessto a safe place to work, a safe place to live, fair and equal pay, quality free early learning andcare, and a justice system that works for survivors.”

Youth advocate Yasmin Poole said the statistics confronting Australian women and girls were disturbing.

“One in five women in Australia will be sexually assaulted or raped in her lifetime, and two
in five women have faced sexual harassment in the workplace in the last five years,” she
said.

“If you’re a First Nations woman, a woman of colour, have a disability or identify as LGBTIQ+, those statistics are even worse.”

Former Australian of The Year Grace Tame said it was time for action.

“We’ve had the reviews, the reports, the talkfests – it’s time for our leaders to get to work, stop the abuse of power and bring about real change,” she said.

“This isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a human rights issue.”