Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Eighty-four years ago, not a single woman had been elected to this place. Just over 60 years ago, not a single woman had been appointed as a minister in this place. Seventeen years ago, we hadn't yet had our first woman Prime Minister. Twelve years ago, there was no Women's Budget Statement, not because there had never been one before—indeed, as the member for Brisbane said, what Labor introduced in the eighties under the Hawke government was the first women's budget statement—but because the coalition government abolished it. In 2022, when the Albanese Labor government came back to power, we brought it back.

This is the Albanese Labor government's fifth Women's Budget Statement. If you've been paying attention over that time, you'll know that, for this government, the Women's Budget Statement isn't mere rhetoric; it's about doing something meaningful. It's meaningful action and it's measurable outcomes. It's not only a measure of our economic policy but also a reflection of our values as a society. It outlines and tracks our progress towards building a future where women are safe, where women are supported and empowered to fully participate in every aspect of our economy and our community, and, ultimately, it illustrates Labor's commitment to putting greater equality and gender equality at the centre of economic policy.

When we talk about economic policy as it relates to women, when we talk about this Women's Budget Statement, it's not a favour to women. It's not just a boost for women; it actually has a profound impact on our economy as a country. It has a profound impact on how well our economy goes and how much it grows, because we know that when women participate in the economy, our economy goes better. We know that when women participate in the economy, it boosts our GDP. We know that when women participate in the economy, we see economic growth. We know that when women participate in the economy, we see economic diversification. We know that when women participate in the economy, we close the gap on superannuation. And we know, when it comes to business, that when women participate at the highest levels of business and corporates, they make more profit. This is not a favour; it's something that will make our nation stronger.

The Women's Budget Statement focuses on five key priority areas to advance gender equality: addressing gender based violence, recognising and valuing both unpaid and paid care, strengthening economic equality and security, improving women's health outcomes, and ensuring women's leadership representation and voice in decision-making. These challenges, they're not siloed; they don't fit neatly into separate boxes. But these challenges are inherently what we must address if we are to make sure that women's participation in the economy is stronger. They are deeply connected. One woman's economic security is affected by her unpaid care responsibilities. Another woman's capacity to lead is shaped by whether she feels safe from violence. And a different woman's health challenges affect her ability to work and to participate in everyday society.

Recently, I attended a Mother's Day breakfast at the C&K Arnwood Place Community Childcare Centre in Ekibin in my electorate on Brisbane's southside. It was a lovely morning with director, Krystal Sisson, and her team, as well as parents, carers and children. As a mum of a toddler and whose daughter also attends child care, I can relate to the stories that the parents at that breakfast were sharing, from the struggle to get out of the house on time in the mornings through to the tension that can exist between the demands of work and the childcare hours available. In fact in 2024-25, the lack of available child care was the main barrier for 43 per cent of women who wanted to work or who wanted to work more hours but couldn't. Difficulties with accessing early childhood education and care are also linked to higher rates of part-time work among women, and women's disproportionate concentration in part-time work has significant long-term impacts. Around one-third of the gender pay gap is driven by time spent out of the workforce and disruptions to continuous full-time employment due to caring responsibilities.

The Albanese Labor government has been working towards narrowing the gap between women and men in part-time and flexible work. Since 2023, more than one million Australians families have benefited from cheaper child care. Since January this year, Labor's three-day guarantee has meant that every family eligible for the childcare subsidy is now guaranteed a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care each fortnight. I like that word 'guarantee' because it means certainty. It means that families can plan. It means something they can rely on. And it has given women, particularly those with irregular or non-standard working arrangements, such as seasonal or intermittent employment, exactly that—a guarantee, not just for their work but for their family. By improving both affordability and reliability of access, it provides important support to low-income families and single-parent households, most of which are led by women.

The key to women's economic equality and security are core economic goals for this government. We need women's workforce participation. Measures like the three-day guarantee are an important part of this interconnected story. And Labor has implemented other crucial reforms to increase labour force participation and to decrease the gender pay gap. I'm talking about tax cuts. I'm talking about wage increases in highly feminised sectors such as child care and aged care. I'm talking about expanded paid parental leave. I'm talking about superannuation with parental leave. I'm talking about stronger workplace equity laws. These have all had a very important part to play in the fact that more Australian women are participating in the workforce than we have ever seen in our country's history. In 2025, women's Labor workforce participation hit that record; however, it still remained below that of men. That's why, in the 2026-27 budget, this government is committing to implement structural reforms aimed at progressing gender equality and removing barriers so that women can earn more, retain more of that income and build long-term financial security. One of these structural reforms is the requirement for Commonwealth public sector and private sector employers to be transparent about their individual gender pay gaps and their plans to meet equality targets. This is about making sure that people put on the table the actual figures. It's about making sure that there's accountability in the system and that you don't just get to talk about women's equality. You don't just get to bust rhetoric about it. You need to show your numbers and you need to share them with the public. That is what Labor has done to ensure that there is a driver of accountability there and that people have to put up and put their cards on the table.

Women represent over 61 per cent of the 2.7 million Australians who are covered by modern awards. The Albanese Labor government has supported an increase to award wages since 2022, emphasising that women are far more likely to rely on award wages. Over this period, the national minimum wage has risen by more than $175 a week. That's 175 bucks each and every week, and it makes an impact, particularly at a time when we know the cost of living is really hurting families. The new working Australian tax offset will implement a permanent annual tax offset of up to $250 from the 2027-28 income year. This will benefit 6.3 million women workers, and, when coupled with the instant tax deduction of $1,000 for work related expenses, it's going to benefit over three million women. I've just touched the surface of what's contained in the women's budget statement. I'd like to congratulate the Minister for Women and thank her and her team for continuing this important work. It broadens the conversation, but there is absolutely more to do.

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