I was wondering if I
could come and see
you sometime soon
about two quite
important areas.
What I'd like to talk
to you about is how
quickly we can get the
recommendations of
the Commission discussed
and then
subsequently implemented.
You're ready to roll?
Okay, well let's make
sure our cameras
are rolling, chappies.
We're rolling.
Would you describe
yourself as a women's
liberationists?
If you could
tell me what you meant by it.
Well, I mean you disagree
with marriage
and as I understand it
you only just
tolerate children.
Oh, on the contrary
I don't disagree with marriage
and I love children.
What problems do you
see with marriage?
I think that the institution
sets up expectations
in both the men and
the women. They're certain
expectations about what
the other person will be doing,
that it is the man's responsibility
to bring home the money
and the woman's
responsibility to keep
the house tidy
and to bring up the children.
When I gave my first press conference
on the first day of the job
the only questions I was
asked were about abortion,
prostitution, lesbianism, rape
and marijuana and so on.
I was asked no questions
about you know
what do you think
is really the problem
facing women in Australia,
what you intend to
do in your job.
The institution I think has problems...
It was utterly
offensive and degrading
and humiliating.
That they could say whatever
they wanted.
Liz Reid 33,
who doesn't wear a bra
said in Canberra today.
Or Liz Reid 33,
whose daughter doesn't live with her
said in Canberra today.
I mean they felt
they had the right to
do those sorts of
things and not just the
male journo's either,
some of them were women
journo's as well.
What have you actually
achieved in the time since your
appointment or has the
government relegated you to the
position of token lady,
without any real
power or influence?
The answer to the first one
is very simple, I started out with
relatively strong ideals and
beliefs and opinions.
I was sensationalised by the press and I
was depicted in quite, in lights
that I found not only personally
unacceptable but which
I found to be harmful to the job.
Women that I've
spoken to after you've
given a speech or
had a talk with them are
mostly on sides as far
I can see.
They're also critical aren't they,
things like why doesn't she wear
any makeup at all.
So you better answer that one I think.
No time to put it on!
I don't know... I do not want my
dress to alienate people
just as I do not want my
manner to alienate people.
I think the areas are so important,
the problems are so important,
that I would hate to
think that I either spoke
aggressively and alienated people
or dressed in a way that
they couldn't cope with.
So I have compromised all
along the line. I even wear
makeup on occasion.
Obstinate men are called strong-willed,
obstinate women are called stubborn.
Talkative men are called
articulate, women garrulous.
Better education for
women, training and retraining,
child care, health facilities and so on.
To bring those about for the
majority of women
not just for the few.
Elizabeth Reid is 33,
country born, a teacher's daughter,
philosophy honors graduate,
divorcee, part-time mother
and for two years and four months
representative at court for
six million women.
A representative the
press was quick to
mold into their own image.
When we came in we
started a definite program.
It was quite, there were
various things in the lives of women
that in all humanity had to be changed.
Women had to have access to
childcare facilities, women had to have
fair workforce conditions,
they had to get paid a fair wage
and you know had to
have access to the sort of
health care they weren't getting.
We are of course at present in an
implementing stage
and what has to be
done is to think out
what next, and I really feel
that I need a mountain and a
bit of peace and quiet to do it in.
And also I personally need a break,
I need to get away and resuscitate
and perhaps to refine
whether or not as a person
I still exist.
It was an amazing lesson for me.
That I was suddenly thrust
into a world where I
could no longer think through
arguments and answer questions honestly,
I had to ask myself, what question
are they really asking
and how will my answer
appear in the papers tomorrow.
It was, talk about
baptism by fire or something.