104:), it is certain that WEL put "women's issues" on the political agenda. In the longer term, WEL's actions meant that, for decades afterwards, political parties took care to formulate and publicise a written women's policy before each election. That practice ultimately made individual candidate interviews less illuminating, since candidates were able to echo the party's policy rather than risk exposing ignorance or insensitivity. However, the legitimisation of women's policy in the political arena gave considerable leverage to those seeking feminist reform, and created accountability in relation to government commitments made in women's interests.
82:, WEL expressed the desire of some activists to affect politics in a direct and practical way. Working in pairs, WEL interviewers pursued and questioned candidates about issues such as equal pay, abortion, child care and sex discrimination. The WEL members were shocked to discover how ignorant many male candidates were about issues that were important to women, and the results of their interviews were enthusiastically reported in the media.
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and functions, in practice this made it difficult to compete in the political arena of the 1980s. While WEL groups clearly did not want to lose power to 'Canberra', often WEL members were in sensitive jobs and were unable to speak publicly on policy." This illustrates an ongoing tension in WEL, which aims to respond quickly to make the most of the media cycle and the
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position... In 1987 Jane Elix, former national co-ordinator, made a powerful plea at a WEL conference for the holder of the position to be authorised to be a media spokeswoman. Elix observed that although founding WEL members believed in non-hierarchical structures and opposed specialisation of roles
154:
The structure of WEL mirrors
Australia's federal political system. There are WEL branches in each state and territory, which focus on state policy and a national WEL branch that focuses on federal policy. Because of the overlapping nature of state and federal policy areas and feminist concerns, state
107:
In the four decades since its founding, WEL has pursued reforms through a distinctive mix of policy analysis and advocacy. It has continued its election work, typically publishing ‘score-cards’ on the parties’ policies and hosting events where candidates are questioned by WEL members and others about
388:
In 2010, the Women's
Electoral Lobby dispensed with its usual process of researching and writing individual policies on a range of policy areas in the lead up to the election. Instead, WEL has developed a Feminist Policy Framework, which sets out criteria to test and rate the policies of political
70:
election of that year. WEL's intervention in the election campaign was intended to publicise candidates’ views on issues of interest to women and, simultaneously, to mobilise women's political power. It achieved both ends and WEL grew into a major feminist non-party, political lobby group.
108:
their positions. Since it was established WEL has made over 900 submissions to parliamentary and other inquiries. WEL spokeswomen provide media commentary and the organisation has an active website and social media presence.
39:
in
Australia. WEL's mission is to create a society where women's participation and potential are unrestricted, acknowledged and respected and where women and men share equally in society's responsibilities and rewards.
691:
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It was also decided at the conference that WEL would employ a part-time
National Communications Officer to ensure communication and information-sharing between WEL branches and to better engage in
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Enhance opportunities for both women and men to take on equal rights and responsibilities in all aspects of society: politics, community, employment and
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in her
Melbourne home in February 1972, and WEL groups formed soon after in other capital cities and regional centres. Growing out of the
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93:, which was also lobbying for electoral reform for women, wound up in order to support the work of the Women's Electoral Lobby.
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Legitimisation, policy development, legislative reform and community education programs on issues such as equal opportunity,
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The passing of equal pay legislation in 1972, which saw women awarded the male rate of pay, no matter what job they performed
396:
Ensure the benefits and outcomes are fairly distributed between women and men, as well as between different groups of women
96:
While it is impossible to determine to what extent WEL's electoral activities influenced the outcome (the election of the
188:
The ANU's WEL History
Project documents name changes to the coordinator position and who held that position as follows:
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According to the WEL History
Project's report on WEL National Convenors, "the position evolved into a more professional
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546:
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790:
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79:
669:
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The decision by the
Arbitration Commission in 1974 to equalise the female Minimum Pay rate with the male rate
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The Women's
Electoral Lobby (WEL) was formed in 1972 to conduct a large-scale survey of candidates for the
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644:
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The drafting and implementation of state anti-discrimination and federal sex discrimination legislation
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The Women's
Movement in Protest, Institutions and the Internet: Australia in Transnational Perspective
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717:
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and national branches of WEL often work together on projects or to lobby for policy change.
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WEL has played a significant role in important policy and legislative changes such as:
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At WEL's 1978 national conference, a decision was made to set up a national office in
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Recognise and rectify past and current inequalities and between men and women; and
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and politics. This role was at first restricted to supporting national campaigns.
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Value and reward fairly people's different skills, experiences and contributions
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WEL is credited with major achievements for women in Australia in relation to
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Recognise the value of caring and supporting roles, whether paid or unpaid
162:, which was originally set up in the laundry of Canberra Women's House in
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reform, which has gradually led to significant amendments to the NSW
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http://wel.org.au/index.php/2010-election/feminist-policy-framework/
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Women's Electoral Lobby History Project, "WEL National Coordinators"
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whilts still maintaining a de-centralised member-driven structure.
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507:"Hiding in plain sight: Australian women's advocacy organisations"
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Making Women Count: A History of the Women's Electoral Lobby
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decisions, the funding of women's and children's services.
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WEL is currently focused on a range of women's issues.
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https://www.facebook.com/WomensElectoralLobbyAustralia
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700:Women's lobbies, alliances and national committees
392:WEL's feminist framework tests how well policies:
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31:, non-profit, self-funded, non-party political,
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509:. In Maddison, Sarah; Sawyer, Marian (eds.).
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567:Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929)
505:Sawer, Marian; Andrew, Merrindahl (2013).
665:A complete history of WEL is in progress.
842:Women's organisations based in Australia
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513:. New York: Routledge. pp. 70–86.
87:Women's Non-Party Political Association
74:WEL was founded at a meeting called by
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537:Sawyer, Marian; Radford, Gail (2008).
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457:Australian Federation of Women Voters
191:1978 national communications officer
35:founded in 1972 during the height of
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728:National Women's Council of Ireland
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80:Women's liberation movement
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768:Women's Council in Denmark
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569:. 21 July 1925. p. 4
491:24 September 2010 at the
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16:Australian lobbying group
758:Macedonian Women's Lobby
495:Women's Electoral Lobby.
733:Hungarian Women's Lobby
723:Norwegian Women's Lobby
345:Rivera Morton-Radovsky
200:2000 national convenor
197:1997 executive officer
21:Women's Electoral Lobby
801:Israel Women's Network
796:League of Women Voters
718:German Women's Council
713:European Women's Lobby
706:Umbrella organisations
541:. Sydney: UNSW Press.
329:Julie McCarron-Benson
98:Australian Labor Party
763:Swedish Women's Lobby
632:WEL History Project,
452:Feminism in Australia
462:Edna Ryan (activist)
358:Sept 98 – April 2000
37:second-wave feminism
743:Czech Women's Lobby
563:"WOMEN'S NON-PARTY"
45:anti-discrimination
350:April 97 – Sept 98
313:Anne-Marie Mioche
270:Sept 86 – March 87
262:March 85 – July 86
171:federal government
89:, formerly led by
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342:April 96 – Jan 97
334:Jan 95 – April 96
318:March 91 – Dec 94
302:Dec 88 – April 89
241:Lorelle Thompson
230:Oct 82 – March 84
183:political climate
132:domestic violence
128:sexual harassment
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222:Feb 79 – Sept 82
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305:Nooshin Guitoo
246:Oct 84 – Dec 84
238:March–Sept 1984
233:Pamela Denoon†
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571:. Retrieved
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369:Erica Lewis
353:Lyn Peryman
254:Jan–Feb 1985
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112:Achievements
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660:WEL Website
410:social life
297:Joy Taylor
33:lobby group
816:Categories
593:wel.org.au
468:References
265:Jane Elix
249:Jo Morgan
144:Crimes Act
389:parties.
289:Lynn Lee
273:Lynn Lee
150:Structure
53:equal pay
573:14 March
489:Archived
416:See also
178:lobbyist
164:O’Connor
160:Canberra
140:Rape law
29:feminist
486:"About"
100:led by
68:federal
62:History
27:) is a
589:"Home"
545:
517:
786:NAWO
575:2021
543:ISBN
515:ISBN
214:1978
209:Who
206:Date
130:and
47:and
19:The
25:WEL
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23:(
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