IWD was celebrated around the country on March 8 with rallies and marches in support of women's demands for measures needed to make equality a reality.
A spirited group of 300 women and men attended the first IWD rally in Canberra for four years. Ngnnawul elder Matilda House opened the rally. Dr Marian Sawer gave a short history of IWD.
The crowd endorsed a statement condemning the cuts to legal aid. A statement of support for the struggles of Burmese women was read, along with a letter from Dita Sari, imprisoned Indonesian labour leader. The theme of the rally was "Fight the backlash. Fight the Liberal attacks on women".
After a lively march to the ACT Legislative Assembly, Susan Carcoar, women's officer of the Community and Public Sector Union, spoke about the attacks on working women. Women's officers from the Australian National University spoke about how cuts affect women's access to education.
Sue Dilley reports from Hobart that a crowd of 300 marked the biggest IWD rally for some years. The theme "Women unite to defend our rights — Oppose the Liberals' attacks" received an energetic and noisy response. Two giant women puppets from the Terrapin Puppet Theatre waved marchers on their way. Male supporters attended, adding their voices to calls for greater funding for women's and child-care services.
Jenna Mead, from the University of Tasmania, received cheers when she urged women, who she identified as Tasmania's "most underrated and valuable resource", to take action against the government.
A representative from Tasmanians Against Racism linked the struggle by women against discrimination and inequality to the struggle against racism. The director of a local community-based child-care centre warned of the effect of cuts in funding to child-care centres.
Kylie Moon from Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor spoke of the need to keep aware of the struggle for liberation of women in other countries.
From Newcastle, Kamala Emanuel and Alex Bainbridge report that 150 women and supporters marched. Lisa Ronneberg of the Newcastle University Students Association denounced the differential increases to HECS as a further disincentive to women entering non-traditional areas.
Child-care worker Janee Binnie spoke against the cutbacks to community-based child-care and described the need to improve the pay and working conditions of child-care workers, who are predominantly women.
A large proportion of the rally were young women attending their first IWD.
From Adelaide, Connie Frazer reports that 1000 women and their supporters marched, many more than on IWD last year. The rally in Rymill Park heard speakers on many aspects of the theme and demands for the day, which focused on 25 years of IWD marches in Adelaide.
The federal ALP's announcement on the previous day that it will now support Coalition legislation to allow the Hindmarsh Island bridge to be built, against the wishes of the traditional Aboriginal owners, environmentalists and many women's and community organisations, was loudly condemned by speakers and the crowd.
Rina Anticich reports from Perth that there was a highly politicised rally with the theme "Women for justice. Justice for women. Stop the cuts. Stop the attacks on women."
Speakers included Annie Goldflam from the Centre for Women's Research and Anne Williams from the Karmany Aboriginal Centre, Jo Samuels from the Women's Refuge Group and Corinne Glenn from Resistance.
The rally was attended by both men and women. The march was women only, loud and spirited, with 250 women chanting "Not the church, not the state, women must decide our fate" through the busy Murray Street Mall, letting the Saturday shoppers know "We're here, we're women, and we're not going shopping".
Resistance and the Democratic Socialist Party held a pre-rally breakfast, which recalled the many women who have struggled throughout history. The IWD dance was also well-attended.
In Wollongong, Tessha Mearing reports, 150 people took part in a march and rally on the theme "A womans place is in the struggle". Speakers included a woman from the Filipino community, a child-care worker, Robynne Murphy from the Democratic Socialist Party and Natasha Sinnett from Resistance.
Sinnett said, "Whether it be racist attacks on migrant people and Aborigines, or cuts to education and child-care, women need to unite to defend and extend womens rights. Society has branded feminism as a dirty word; we need to reclaim it."
Sally Mitchell reports from Darwin that a loud, vibrant and musical group of 50 women and a small contingent of men rallied. A new collective of Northern Territory University students decided on the theme "Unite and fight for women's rights".
The rally was chaired by Stella Simmering from the Long-Term Unemployed Workers Collective, who vigorously opposed the new work for the dole scheme. Nfanwey Welsh from Dawn House described the impact of under-funding women's shelters. Sibylle Kaczorek, education vice-president of the NTU Students Union, highlighted the impact of HECS increases and Austudy restrictions on women.
Sally Mitchell from Resistance read a letter from Dita Sari, and Emma King from a new Darwin anti-militarism group spoke of the increase in rape and violence against women in cities hosting military bases. Marie Mathews, who was beaten by a group of men last year, spoke of her frustration with the police and legal system.
The rally demanded that a women's officer position be created in the NTU Students Union, and that a space for women free from sexual harassment be provided by the Darwin City Council.
An advertisement was placed in the NT News, "Territory women in support of Native Title rights", in response to the backlash against Aboriginal claims under native title.
From Brisbane, Kerry Vernon reports that two Tahitian anti-nuclear activists gave greetings to a rally of 1500 women and supporters.
Other speakers included Aboriginal poet Lisa Belair; Dee Hunt and Emire Distore from the Centre for Philippine Concerns; and Ruth Radcliffe from Resistance, speaking about the problems facing young women. Mandy McNully from Women for a Just Criminal Code spoke about the problems women face in the current criminal code around domestic violence, and in rape law reform. Susan Kelly from Children by Choice described the current threat to their funding; and "Leslie" spoke about problems for lesbians around fertility issues.
The march wound through the city to Musgrave Park for a festival. There, Democratic Socialist candidate in the Brisbane City Council elections Coral Wynter said, "All the gains of the women's movement are under attack, and now is not the time to step back from IWD ... Now is the time to organise."
Trish Corcoran reports from Sydney that 4000 people marched carrying purple balloons and chanting "Women united will never be defeated". There were a wide range of organisations represented, and a number of schools carrying banners that were designed for IWD
The march went to Circular Quay, where there were speakers and 50 stalls. This event marked one of the largest protests against the Howard government's cutbacks.
From Melbourne, Claudine Holt reports that despite a public transport strike, almost 1000 women gathered at the GPO. Host Patricia Karvelas told the crowd the day was not only to celebrate women's achievements but to campaign and continue the struggle against sexism and racism.
The rally theme was, "Doing it together: women unite to fight racism and sexism". Adele Murdolo, from Women in Industry and Community Health, spoke about the Howard government's attacks on migrants. Anne Delaney, from the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union, examined the super-exploitation of newly arrived migrant outworkers in the fashion industry.
Karvelas warned the crowd to be ready for any attacks the government may make in the 1997 budget on abortion access and supported the striking transport workers, drawing a warm response from the crowd.
The women-only march left the GPO for a festival at Flagstaff Gardens. There were large contingents from the Turkish, Salvadoran and Philippines communities.