The backflip was brought on after Minister for Women Jodie Harrison was pressed to explain the cancellation in Question Time at the NSW Parliament this week.

Shadow Minister for Women Leslie Williams said the Government owes the women of regional New South Wales an apology after the shameful attempt to exclude them.

“The axing of the Regional Woman of the Year Award is an absolute insult to the inspirational women who are celebrated by this category,” Mrs Williams said. 

“The extraordinary calibre of inspirational regional women who have previously won, such as Anna Barwick, Grace Brennan and Juliet Duffy, were being written out by the Minns Labor Government.”

“It is beyond belief that you would sideline women simply because they live in our rural and regional communities.”

Deputy Leader of the Nationals Bronnie Taylor who had previously presented the award in her role as Minister for Women in the former Government, says bush communities will be very disappointed.

“With just a month to go for nominations to be put forward, it is a slap in the face thatLabor is rushing to fix – it’s a serious mistake that should never have happened,” Mrs Taylor said. 

“Our regional communities have been through unimaginable hardship from destructive fires to unprecedented flooding as well as drought, and the women in those communities have sacrificed so much to help those around them.

“I am calling on the Minister for Women to explain to those women why their contribution was thought not deserving of recognition.”

Original Material From | Leslie Williams, NSW Shadow Minister for Women