Former premier Joan Kirner (right) and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato believe it’s important for politicians to listen to the community. By Jim Mynard
FORMER Victorian premier Joan Kirner said her life had been about working to ensure people had the opportunity to be educated and that women had a say in their lives.
Mrs Kirner said being forced to resign from her teaching job when she married husband Ron (also a teacher) was the trigger that set her on a life-long battle for women.
Such were the rules in those days, she told a lunch meeting of the ALP Gembrook electorate last week.
“I felt I had to do something about that and it took 13 years to rectify.”
Mrs Kirner said it was important for politicians to listen to people.
“People are entitled to share in decisions that affect their lives.
“A strong community is based on shared decision-making because if a community doesn’t feel it owns the decisions then they will not sit.”
Mrs Kirner noted the time when neighbourhood houses were under threat and said they were saved because good women in both political parties took a stand.
“We should work with the government in partnerships and not as if it were the enemy,” she said.
“Power does not belong only to those who were elected.
“Every one of us has a little bit of power and it is our choice whether we go out and connect it with other people.
“So don’t complain about things if you don’t use the little bit of power that you have.”
