Victoria’s first female Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford today praised and celebrated the role of rural women at the first gathering of the Rural Women’s Network reference group.
The Reference Group, which gathered on International Women’s Day, included key agriculture leaders and innovators from a wide variety of professional backgrounds.
The Andrews Labor Government re-established the Rural Women’s Network in 2017 after it was inexplicably cut by the Liberal-Nationals, injecting $1.7 million into the network to support Victoria’s rural women with information, services and leadership opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Ms Pulford highlighted the enormous contribution that women make to the state’s $13.1 billion sector and noted that almost a third of Victoria’s farmers are women.
Ms Pulford commended women from all over Victoria who called for the Network to be reinstated.
The new network is working with Victoria’s rural women’s groups and individuals to share ideas and information, and encourage women to have a more active voice in government and community decision-making.
The Labor Government continues to back Victoria’s rural women trailblazers in agriculture in a number of ways, including the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards, the Invisible Farmer project and the Young Farmers Scholarships Program.
For more about the Victorian Rural Women’s Network, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/food-and-fibre-industries/rural-womens-network.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“As women, we must always press for progress regardless of where we live.”
“We are so proud as a government to lead the reinvigoration of Victoria’s Rural Women’s Network – a community and platform where rural women truly have a voice.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins
“The Andrews Labor Government is pressing for progress when it comes to gender equality right across Victoria.”