You may have heard on the radio or read in the news about my attack on the blatant political bias in Australia Post’s “2011 Australian Legends” Stamp Series which recognised women who advanced gender equality in the 1970s.
Anne Summers, Elizabeth Evatt, Eva Cox and Germaine Greer were Australia Post’s choices as “Australian Legends” and are all political activists from the left.
Summers headed Bob Hawke’s Office for the Status of Women. Evatt was head of the Australian Law Reform Commission under Hawke and Keating. Cox founded the Women’s Electoral Lobby and has, to my recollection, never recommended a vote for the Liberal Party. Germaine Greer’s politics are well known.
But just like a lot of government-sponsored history, Australia Post has failed to tell the whole story, completely ignoring the role of liberal and conservative women in advancing women’s equality.
Australia Post has failed any basic test of political balance.
After all, in the 1970s, Liberal Women achieved some significant firsts and landmarks.
Margaret Guilfoyle became the first woman in Cabinet with portfolio as Minister for Education in 1975 and Beryl Beaurepaire led the first National Women’s Advisory Council, which she followed by becoming the first woman chair of the Australian War Memorial.
Yesterday in Senate Estimates I raised this issue – and despite the hysterical reactions of Labor Senators Conroy and Cameron (they think because I am not a woman I can’t be passionate about this issue or even raise it), I attacked Australia Post for their lack of balance.
Alan Jones said I was “1000% correct” in attacking Australia Post for not selecting Australian Legends like Margaret Guilfoyle or Beryl Beaurepaire for this honour.
CEO Ahmed Fahour already tried to blame consultants and his board of directors for the political bias in the stamp series and he said he will get back to me with more excuses as to AusPost’s political bias.
We cannot vacate the field and let the ALP write history. The Left like to think that they are only champions of equality – but the truth is otherwise and we must fight for our corner. The Liberal Party has a remarkable and honourable history of advancing women’s rights and equality.
You can be assured that I will fight to ensure that liberals and conservatives like Margaret Guilfoyle, Beryl Beaurepaire and Enid Lyons are given their due recognition as Australian Legends.
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