OFarrell Government Cancels NSW Woman of the Year Award

Posted below is a copy of a press release I recieved through my network. It certainly is poor form to be pulling the plug on a womens award in the period of celebrating International Womens day- a short letter to Ms Goward letting her know how you feel I think is very appropriate.

here are her contact details.

Goulburn Electorate Office 


A Ms Pru Goward, MP


288 Bong Bong Street


BOWRAL NSW 2576 or

A Ms Pru Goward, MP


Level 34 Governor Macquarie Tower


1 Farrer Place


SYDNEY NSW 2000

P (02) 4861 3623 P (02) 9228 5413

F (02) 4861 3546 F (02) 9228 5501

E goulburn@parliament.nsw.gov.au E office@goward.minister.nsw.gov.au




Regards........Amanda

MEDIA RELEASE FOLLOWS:

Sophie Cotsis MLC
Shadow Minister for the Status of Women Monday, 5 March 2012 O'FARRELL GOVERNMENT CANCELS NSW WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
GOWARD DENIGRATES FORMER NOMINEES AND WINNERS Minister for Women, Pru Goward has denigrated the NSW Woman of the Year award – following her appalling decision to cancel the honour which coincides with International Women's Day each year.
"On top of her appalling decision to scrap the NSW Woman of the Year award, Pru Goward has now insulted the very awards which have recognised the outstanding achievements of hundreds of women since 2005," Shadow Minister for Women, Sophie Cotsis said today.
Yesterday, Ms Goward claimed: "We want to… ensure that every person in the community has the opportunity to nominate the person of their choice. That was not happening. It was a very tired award and it seemed to be mostly Labor's friends who got awards and we want to make it much more inclusive".
(2UE radio, 4 March 2012) "Ms Goward's claims that past award recipients were selected for political reasons is an offensive and baseless slur against the talented women who have received this award in the past," Ms Cotsis said.
"The claim that the awards were politically skewed is dispelled by a quick Google search, which shows Pru Goward presenting an award last year, when she was still in Opposition." http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/mccue-could-be-nsws-top-woman/2095405.aspx "Contrary to Ms Goward's claims, members of the public have always been able to nominate women for NSW Woman of the Year Awards since they began in 2005," Ms Cotsis said.
"Ms Goward knows this and should apologise for her misleading and inaccurate comments."