National votes to undermine women

Female students across the country are appalled at the National Party’s vote tonight for the Act Party’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.

“Despite overwhelming support against the Bill at the Select Committee stage, National has chosen to ignore the people’s voice and destroy campus culture,” says NZUSA National Women’s Rights Officer Caitlin Dunham.

“The recent Human Rights Commission’s New Zealand Census of Women’s Participation showed we are still far from gender equity in New Zealand, and National allowing this Bill to pass just widens that gap,” says Dunham.

“The women’s movement has been experiencing renewed popularity on campuses around the country, with women-oriented events such as Women’s Weeks getting great attendance, advocacy for student parents a priority, and projects such as the national Campus Safety Audit underway.”

“This Bill will see that years of hard work at a tertiary level go unrecognised in the wider women’s movement, and will ensure that we cannot help the Minister of Women’s Affairs in her attempt to close the gender pay gap.”

“Similar legislation in Australia saw many associations struggle or collapse, and it would be a tragedy if this was allowed to happen here. Advocacy for women would be in jeopardy and marginalised groups would not get the support they need, because of reduced resources and capacity of associations.”

“This unnecessary, unwanted, and unworkable Bill will have significant negative impacts on the sector and students. The current law provides choice and flexibility for students regarding membership of their students’ association. They should be the ones deciding the future of student education, welfare and activism, not central Government,” concludes Dunham.

The Tertiary Women’s Focus Group (TWFG) is an autonomous women’s advocacy and campaign group within NZUSA and serves to represent women in tertiary education. The TWFG exists to fight for barrier free education for women in Aotearoa/New Zealand and believes that education is essential and that the different needs and material realities of women must be recognised and addressed through education processes.

ENDS

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