Women’s affairs need solid leadership not defeatist Minister

Women should not have to shoulder an unfair burden from the looming economic crisis, says Labour's spokesperson on Women's Affairs, Sue Moroney.

"The Minister of Women's Affairs has accepted as ‘inevitable’ that New Zealand women will be hugely affected by the recession and that large percentages of women in the workforce are employed in areas that are likely to be hit hardest," said Sue Moroney

"Pansy Wong has accepted this outcome as being "inevitable" at a time when she should be working on strategies to prevent this from happening.

“Instead, Ms Wong is using her role as Minister of Women's Affairs to defend the lack of women invited to attend the Government's Jobs Summit this week.

"Even though she knows that large numbers of women will be affected, she still thinks it is an achievement for 35 women to be involved in putting ideas forward to the forum of almost 200 participants," said Sue Moroney.

“Her statement that she will represent the women's views because she is in the cabinet hold little weight after she failed to stop National from scrapping pay equity investigations for social workers and school support staff last week and are even less credible when you consider that of the Ministers invited to the planning meeting not one was a woman.

"Where was she when Summit organisers invited CEO Bill Gallagher, but refused to accept his Corporate Service Executive, Margaret Comer in his place?"

The organisers later reversed their decision but Mrs Comer has decided that she will not attend the Summit because of the "way it is being handled."

ENDS

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