Ms HUTCHINS (Minister for Women) (09:40:16) — Happy International Women’s Day. Many members of Parliament are making statements today about previous inductees into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. Not only are they worthy of this honour but they are worthy of the honour of having their names read into the historic pages of our Hansard. There are two women I want to pay tribute to.

For the past 40 years Eleanor Burke has devoted herself to increasing awareness, appreciation and advancement of Aboriginal people and improving understanding between Aboriginals and non­Aboriginals. Her goal has been to see that reconciliation and recognition of traditional owner groups is carried through into all aspects of everyday life beyond the cultural heritage matters, as important as they are. She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2010.

As a former minister Kay Setches is one of the strongest women in the ALP. She created and chaired the Victorian government’s women’s caucus and she is a strong activist through EMILY’s List. Though she has many impressive achievements, the one which I am still amazed by is how she improved the lives of many families by expanding 390 childcare places to 15 000 by the time she had left office. She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.