Let's Walk the Talk Inside the Department: Messages to Government, Farming Associations and Agribusiness from the Women of Rural Australia

In September, 1997, the first of a series of data gathering sessions was run with Australian rural women at the Queensland Rural Women on the Land Gathering. The aim of these focus groups was to generate discussion amongst the rural women of Australia as to why, depite their love of and involvement in agriculture, there were so few women in public positions of leadership within the sector. This report is a culmination of that 18-month ongoing dialogue with the rural women of Australia.

In conducting the study, one of our major aims was to provide an opportunity for the voices of women in agriculture across Australia to be heard by major decision-makers in agriculture. As part of that process, the final question asked of all participants in the Women on the Land Gatherings was, 'As rural women involved in agriculutre, what is the key message you would like to give to (state/territory and federal) governments(s)?'

This report collects together and presents their responses to that question, along with recommendations for change elicited from all of the project's participants. Overwhelmingly, however, the chief message these women provided was clear. They have a passionate commitment to agriculture which will not be silenced. Their contribution needs to be acknowledged and valued by all major players in agriculture.