Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also thank the honourable member for Petrie for her service to the ADF, and all men and women who have served this country in uniform—but, seeing as we're talking about women in uniform, well done. A big shout-out also goes to Linda Reynolds, a former senator who is an Army brigadier, who served this country with distinction and is still doing so, just in a different way.

At a time when we mark 125 years of the Royal Australian Navy, it is fitting that we reflect not just on capability but on the people who have served under our national flag. It's a privilege and an honour to serve under that flag, as it's always been. For far too many Australians, that service has come at the ultimate cost. Some 103,000 Australians have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving this country. Many more have carried the invisible wounds of that service long after they've taken off their uniform, and increasingly that includes women. We know that too many of our veterans, including ex-serving women, are dying by suicide at rates higher than the general population. That is something that should concern every single one of us in this place, because, when Australians are prepared to give everything in service of our nation, we have a duty to stand by them when they come home.

The story of women in our Defence Force is one of evolution, resilience and progress. For much of our history, women's roles were limited. They served with distinction in nursing and support roles, often in some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable but without the same recognition or opportunity afforded to their male counterparts. Over time, that has changed. Barriers have been broken down and continue to be broken down. Opportunities have expanded. Today women serve across more than 200 roles in the Australian Defence Force including in combat roles, in command positions and in some of the most technically complex and strategically important areas of our military. That progress matters because a modern defence force must reflect the nation it serves. Today women make up just over 20 per cent of the Australian Defence Force. That's up from around 14 per cent just over a decade ago. In raw numbers that is more than 17,000 women serving in uniform.

We are seeing strong representation in recruitment, with women making up more than 23 per cent of new enlistments in recent years. We're also seeing progress in leadership, with women now holding senior officer roles and commanding positions across our services. But we also know there's much more to do. Representation remains uneven across the services. The Navy has made strong progress. The Army still has more ground to make up. Retention remains a challenge, and, for younger women, the decision to serve is not always an easy one. If we're serious about building the defence force Australia needs for the future, we must continue to remove barriers, support careers and create an environment where women can not only serve but thrive.

As someone who's worked closely on national security and defence issues in this parliament, I say this clearly: capability is not just about submarines, ships or aircraft. It's about our people. It's about ensuring we attract and retain the very best Australians regardless of their gender because, in an increasingly uncertain strategic environment, we cannot afford to limit ourselves to half the talent pool. It doesn't seem to be a really novel concept. As we invest in projects like AUKUS, as we build the next generation of our defence force, that principle has never been more important.

In the 10 years I've been in this place, I've had the privilege of being on a submarine, of flying in RAAF aircraft and of being out in the field with our Defence personnel. I've seen the way our women have served this country with great distinction, and I tip my hat to them because, whether in the Middle East or here in Australia, they have impressed me greatly with their professionalism and their willingness to serve wearing the Australian uniform. And we owe them a great debt of gratitude. Every single person who has served in this country in uniform deserves our respect, whether they are male or female.

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