Public Safety Portfolio International Women's Day Event

Commissioners Katarina Carroll APM, Ian Stewart APM and Dr Peter Martin APM; Inspector General; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to join you for International Women’s Day.

Looking back, I remember when I was a child and adults would ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up, one of the most popular answers was, “I want to be a firefighter.”

Except back then we would say, “I want to be a fireman”, because at that time, there wasn’t an avenue for girls to grow up and join their male contemporaries in fighting fires in a professional capacity.

Fortunately times have changed, and now when I hear adults ask children that age-old question - “What do you want to be when you grow up?” – I hear both boys and girls reply, “I want to be a firefighter”; or “I want to be a paramedic”; or “I want to be a police officer; and so on.

Many of you here would have answered that question the same way, and you have turned that dream into reality.

Every day the decisions you make have a direct impact on the lives and welfare of others. Many of you put your own lives on the line.

In this State where bushfires, droughts and flooding rains are a fact of life, Queenslanders have a very high regard and esteem for those who work to keep the public safe. It is certainly the case that when a uniformed figure of one of our highly professional, public safety personnel appears at an emergency, it is always a welcome sight, irrespective of their gender.

But there is still some distance to travel until a woman’s presence at an emergency scene is so commonplace as to be unremarkable.

I am certain that many of you will know the inspiring stories of women gathered here today who have made a positive and lasting impact on our state organisations and our communities.

International Women’s Day is the perfect time to remind you of the value and importance of nominating those women for awards in the Order of Australia, so that our entire community can celebrate their accomplishments.

On behalf of the people of Queensland, I thank each of you, most sincerely, for your personal and enduring commitment to the safety and security of your fellow Queenslanders, and to ensuring that other women are able to follow in your footsteps and serve with equal pride.

Happy International Women’s Day, and thank you.