The Wire

Social justice for marginalised women in NSW took a blow recently, as the State Government moves to dismantle the NSW Department for Women. Hidden within the rhetoric of cost cutting is a plan that will “elevate” the department to the Office of the Premier. From the 1st of July the Department of Women’s budget will be cut by $2.5 million dollars, and in 2005 further reductions are planned. It’s not clear exactly what areas will be cut, but women’s groups fear that important functions such as policy advice and research will be lost. She-Fah Szetu spoke to Sarah Maddison from the Womens Electoral Lobby and Eva Cox, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Writing, Journalism and Social Inquiry at the University of Technology Sydney.