Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week I joined young women and extraordinary organisations at the UN Women International Women's Day Parliamentary Breakfast. This year's theme, 'Balance the Scales', is very apt. Two things are clear. Firstly, there is a coordinated global effort to undermine gender equality. Secondly, Australia is not immune. Progress is never guaranteed; we must defend it. And that responsibility starts with us as representatives in this House. We set the tone for the nation. When we choose respect, we reinforce balance. When we allow disrespect, when we look away, we risk tipping the scales backwards.

Last week the Prime Minister modelled that leadership when he called out behaviour directed at the opposition leader—behaviour fuelled by commentary that would never be levelled at a man. Headlines like that normalise aggression and disrespect at a time when domestic and family violence demands we do better. If we allow contempt or casual disrespect to seep into public life through our words and actions, we open the door for the same forces disrupting gender equity overseas to take hold here. This government has worked to balance the scales through legislation, fairer pay and expanded health services—and there is more to do.