DO WOMEN PAY MORE? price discrimination in the consumer marketplace As you are probably aware, the Women's Trust has for some time been involved in a campaign to address discriminatory pricing practices in this State. As part of its 1999 granting program, the Trust funded the Consumer Law Centre to conduct a test case to ascertain the legality of charging for hairdressing services based on the sex of the customer. A case was subsequently brought against prominent Melbourne hairdresser Edward Beale at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. As a result, Mr Beale agreed to stop discriminatory price practices against women in his salons. This was a landmark victory in the fight for justice for women consumers. It has also had implications for the wider struggle to attain equality for women as consumers, with the State Government announcing the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry to investigate discriminatory practices against women. The Women's Trust, along with the Consumer Law Centre and Women's Legal Service, is at present developing a submission to this Inquiry. We would like to supplement this submission with recent examples of price discrimination. Areas of particular attention include the hairdressing industry, dry cleaning services, car repairs and sales, superannuation or the financial services sector. If you have a story about an incident, in these or any other arenas, that you believe to be discriminatory, please let us know. The deadline for receipt of stories is Thursday 1st March. We look forward to hearing from you! URGENT ACTION!!! Circulate amongst your email lists and get writing!!! In Victoria, Australia....Heather Osland has served 5 years of a 14 1/2 year prison sentence for killing her husband in Self Defence after 13 years of severe domestic violence. She tried to leave many times but was hunted down and threatened, the police wouldn't help her and there were no family violence services in her home town of Bendigo during the time. The system failed Heather and her family and is still failing her by keeping her in prison. The Victorian Government Attorney-General and Cabinet Ministers will be deciding whether to free Heather Osland through the granting her Petition of Mercy during January/February 2001. LETTERS IN SUPPORT ARE CRUCIAL WRITE NOW even if you have written before THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO HELP FREE HEATHER! For information on what to write and contact for who to write to please go to http://home.vicnet.net.au/~rhog/update.html FOR MORE INFO Visit http://home.vicnet.net.au/~rhog/ Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone (Australia) (03) 94111306 Post PO Box 1375 North Fitzroy Vic 3068 Australia
