Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Many years ago, before I was even a candidate in my electorate of Chisholm, one of my local neighbourhood houses was selling second-hand books in Mount Waverley. A memoir caught my eye. Zelda, it was called—written by the incomparable, uncompromising Zelda D'Aprano. Zelda D'Aprano was a passionate warrior for equal pay, chaining herself in protest to government buildings and pursuing the cause her whole life. Zelda D'Aprano passed away in 2018, and in 2024 a beautiful bronze statue of her was erected in Melbourne outside the Victorian Trades Hall Council building, which I spent a few years at working as an assistant secretary. Her statue is one of too few statues of women in my hometown in Melbourne. Emblazoned on the base of her statue is a quote, which was a response. She made the statement in response to an incredulous question she was asked about her activism and whether she could achieve anything. This is what she said:

Today it was me, tomorrow there will be two of us, the next day there will be three and it will go on and on and there won't be any stopping it.

As we mark International Women's Day this year, with its theme of 'balance the scales', let's think about the scales of justice and ensuring that all women and girls can access fairness and equality. Just as Zelda D'Aprano sought justice for herself and others, we must continue to make sure we never take a backward step and we move forward together to achieve meaningful and sustainable equality.

It is worth remembering that, when the first iteration of International Women's Day was held in 1909 in New York, it was led by garment workers who were trying to secure better wages and hours and the right to bargain with their employers. The conditions that garment workers toiled in were unsafe. It was only two years later, in 1911, that one of the greatest industrial disasters in United States history occurred—the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a brutal event which killed 123 women and 23 men.

In Australia, our first International Women's Day was held in 1928, soon after parliament first sat here in Canberra. Its focus was again on women's rights at work. Equal pay for equal work, eight-hour workdays and better conditions were central themes. Fast forward almost 100 years, and there have been considerable achievements made. In 1973, the Whitlam government appointed the first women's adviser to a prime minister in the world, and the Sex Discrimination Act passed by the Hawke government in 1984 was a landmark moment for our nation and women's rights more broadly across the world. The gender pay gap right now is at a low of 11.5 per cent. It's still too high, but this is good progress when considering that a decade ago it was over 18 per cent. There is clearly still more work to do though to ensure real economic equality.

Since the Fair Work Act came into effect in 2009, introduced by the Rudd government, certain rights have been guaranteed to all workers under the National Employment Standards. These were expanded to include paid parental leave provisions and paid family and domestic violence leave. These are entitlements we know do disproportionately impact women, as they are vastly more likely to be primary caregivers and assault survivors. These additional entitlements were all introduced under Labor governments.

In addition to more choice in taking paid parent leave for both parents regardless of gender and implementing paid family and domestic violence leave, the Albanese Labor government has critically made gender equality an object of the Fair Work Act. The Albanese government's industrial relations reforms have reflected both the changing nature of work and families and the idea that the gendering of work—women's work and men's work—has been harmful to both the wages taken home by Australians and also the aspirations and opportunities for every person in our country. We should have boys and girls wanting to take on all sorts of occupations and opportunities, having all kinds of dreams about their future, not just those that have been preordained for cohorts based on gender alone.

I am proud to be part of a government that is making important progress, with over 50 per cent of our caucus made up of women. Positive change is what happens when there are different voices and including women's voices in rooms where decisions are made. Our women's health package, which provides for new medications and takes seriously the experience of girls and women in the medical system, is another big part of the way we are listening to and acting for and with women.

There is still so much more to do, despite all the positive advances. We must all act to eliminate the absolutely appalling rates of violence against women we see in this country, the misogyny we see online and the real and potential gendered harm we witness due to the growth of artificial intelligence and the way it may develop in the future. There has, unfortunately, been a global contraction of global aid to support girls and women, and rights have been going backwards for girls and women in parts of the world, which is something that should terrify us all and mobilise us all to take action.

There is so much more work to be done, and this year I once again commit myself to doing all I can, inspired by the efforts made by those who came before me. Change is possible when we work together. I want to pay tribute to all those who came before me, from the first Labor woman elected to the House of Representatives, Joan Child, who represented an area that overlaps my current electorate—her electorate of Henty has unfortunately been abolished—to the suffragists in my own family who went out and knocked on doors to get people to sign the monster petition in Victoria for women to have the right to vote and who, of course, put their name to that petition themselves.

On International Women's Day and in responding to the statement made by the Assistant Minister in the house, I think it is really important this week to mention and acknowledge the brave Iranian soccer players who will now call Australia home. They will now be able to be athletes in a democratic society that values their contributions, where they can make choices and be heard. When we look at the world, we see that democracy is something that has become very fragile in recent times. I want to thank the Iranian Australian community, who I have worked with for many years, for their work and their advocacy. I particularly want to acknowledge the Iranian Women's Association and other groups that I've worked with in my own community of Chisholm in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for their voice in conversations about women's rights and about girls and women being able to make all the choices that should be able to make as free agents of their own destiny.

On International Women's Day, let's look back at what's been achieved, but let's also acknowledge the challenges that lay before us and commit ourselves to working together to make sure that we have a more equal and better society for all.

Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take this opportunity. It wasn't planned, clearly. I'm not standing in the right position, but here we go anyway. I very proudly stand here as the first woman elected to the seat of Lyne on the mid-north coast of New South Wales and as only the second woman from the New South Wales Nationals Party elected to the House of Representatives in over a 100-odd years. It's quite an achievement. In my first speech, I paid tribute to the very first woman elected from New South Wales, Kay Hull, an absolute dynamo. I had the privilege, as a staffer, to see Kay in action here in the parliament. She was somebody who, frankly, ministers found it very difficult to say no to. Perhaps, she didn't nag about urgent care clinics like I have been doing since I entered the parliament, but she certainly found a way to get her case across. She has served until recently as our federal president of the National Party and has done an outstanding job. I'm incredibly privileged to have seen Kay and many other very strong women enter the parliament from the Nationals in my own area. Wendy Machin, former member for Port Macquarie, was one of the first female ministers for a coalition government in New South Wales. Wendy really was a trailblazer and continues to contribute as the chair of the local primary health network. She certainly continues to show a great deal of passion for the area that she represented.

On the weekend, on Saturday, I had the great privilege of attending the Rotary Club of Taree for Manning's International Women's Day event to raise funds for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which is quite an incredible charity that's doing amazing work to support our children to thrive. It was an honour and a privilege to be there as one of the panel speakers with May Ambour and Meg Nicholson, the other two women on the panel. We were joined by a gentleman as well who runs a very large business from Taree. My state colleague Tanya Thompson, the member for Myall Lakes, also joined us, as well as women from across the Manning, including a number of women who were affected by the floods of last year.

I have to say, it was an incredibly emotional luncheon event in celebration of International Women's Day. A lot of tears were shed because, for a lot of us, the trauma of that flood event lives large in our lives. There are many people, many women, who remain out of their homes. For some people it's very hard to imagine that 10 months after an event of that significance—you don't see the rubbish on the side of the road anymore. You can look out across paddocks that were once covered and completely underwater that are green, appear lush and have cattle grazing on them. But the fact of the matter is that the trauma of that May event lives large, and it certainly lived large on Saturday.

There are the stories of the women, including Rhonda Futterleib—I didn't mention her by name, but I spoke of her in my first speech—whose business was affected. But, like so many women across the Lyne electorate, they mucked in. Again, I think I said in my first speech that strangers went to best friends in a moment by simply saying, 'Mate, how can I help?' So many women showed that mateship to their neighbours, their family, their friends and complete strangers during that event in May last year.

The trauma that we're experiencing—the fact that so many people are not yet back in their houses and that businesses are suffering—is the very reason why the member for Myall Lakes and I continue to fight for justice for Taree, Wingham and the Manning Valley. We are still fighting for additional support for our communities. We still have not yet seen it, despite call after call for additional funding for small businesses across the region.

The Deputy Speaker would appreciate this: Queensland does do disaster recovery funding quite well compared to New South Wales. I've seen quite generous support to flood affected communities in Queensland, and rightly so. Our community is looking for similar levels of support, given this was a once-in-500-years flood. We're still calling for that additional funding for small business. We still need an equivalent program to the one offered in Lismore for house raisings. We still need more support for farmers and oyster growers in the region.

These are the issues that women in Lyne support and continue to call for. They themselves are small-business owners. It's wonderful. I know this parliament celebrates women who are entrepreneurs and innovators wherever they are in this country. I'm very privileged, like all members, to be able to get up here and represent these incredible women. But many of these women remain devastated by this flood event and, equally, need this additional support to get back on their feet, as do a number of people that are still not back in their homes. Some continue to struggle to find a residence to call home. I was myself lucky during the flood event that I had my own bed to go back to. So many didn't. It's still a very painful and traumatic experience.

I want, in this short period of time—unplanned as it is—to simply say that it was an incredible honour and privilege to participate in this event on Saturday and to share with so many incredible women the stories of survival, courage and tenacity that women showed during that flood event and continue to show today. I congratulate Rhonda and I congratulate the Rotary Club of Taree on Manning. As a Rotarian myself, I'm very proud to always participate in Rotary events. Rotary, too, has a big focus on domestic violence. I've participated in a number of rallies through my own Rotary Club, focusing on domestic violence and how we can better support women and men in our communities through very difficult and traumatic experiences.

I want to send a shout-out to all of the women in the Lyne electorate. I'm so incredibly proud of all of you, of what you get up and do every day. I hope that I can continue to do my very best, as the first female member for Lyne, to represent you with all my heart and all my passion.

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's with great pleasure that I rise in the House today to mark International Women's Day 2026 and to celebrate the women of Newcastle, in particular, but also of the Hunter and of our nation who continue to organise, lead, care, create, advocate and fight for an equal Australia. International Women's Day is always a moment to reflect on how far women have come but also, to be honest, on how far we still have to go. Progress does not happen by accident. There's a lot of careful design in making incremental change towards equality in Australia. Progress happens because women organise for it, it happens because unions fight for it, it happens because communities demand it, and it happens because governments might choose to act.

That's why I am so proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government that has made gender equality a central feature of all our thinking. It's not just a matter of policy, as important as that is; it's a priority and a fundamental principle for every one of us in the Australian Labor Party. I need only point to the very long journey that was establishing affirmative action within the Australian Labor Party, a journey that I've been part of for more than 30 years.

Now I get to stand off the back of all that hard work we did for three decades, where women stood up in our party rooms and demanded equality and an equal seat at the table. I sit with my sisters, my Labor sisters here—the member for Melbourne and the member for Cunningham—and, indeed, a sister from the National Party, the member for Lyne, and we're all beneficiaries of the hard work that was done in the Australian Labor Party and the wider Labor movement. Today, we sit in Australia's first ever majority female government and Australia's first ever majority female cabinet. I do want to stress that.

I have a lot of young women that come and talk to me about entering politics, and I actively encourage them to do so. But I really emphasise the point that, with some things, you've got to be in it for the long haul. There are no quick fixes for a lot of the structural inequalities that continue to exist in Australia. I think, if anything is to be learnt from the 30-year journey of the Australian Labor Party—I say this with kindness and sincerity to the Nationals member sitting opposite me—there are really important lessons about how you generate an environment within your party rooms and party structures to ensure that women are equal partners. It's a hard road. I don't underestimate it. I know that it's something that occupies the minds of all women in parliament. Wherever we can lend support to ensure that more women are getting a seat at the table, in whatever party room they stand in, that's a good thing.

Over the last term, Labor delivered on a lot of reforms that are making a huge difference now to women's lives. That's the hard policy work we did to come to government: talking with Australian women in the regions across Australia and making sure we were crafting policy that spoke to the lives of Australian women. We've strengthened workplace rights. We've delivered on the 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. It's a matter that is a huge issue in all of our electorates. This is not something that is peculiar to Labor women's interests; we know that family and domestic violence is a scourge and it occurs throughout our communities, in every economic band within our communities and in all geographical locations.

That's been the focus of our term of government: having a policy focus that strengthens workplace rights, delivers on the 10 day paid family and domestic violence leave, expands paid parental leave, improves job security and wages, increases transparency around the gender pay gap and puts women's economic equality back where it belongs, at the centre of national policy. Making sure that women have economic security, that there's an equitable arrangement in terms of workplace rights, parental leave rights and the gender pay gap, ensures that our national policy reflects the reality, which is that we want to see women being able to participate fully as productive members of our economy and our society.

In this term, that work will continue. We're building on those strong foundations from the last term with further expansion of paid parental leave, including paying superannuation for the first time ever on government paid parental leave. When I tell young women that they don't get paid superannuation—well, they didn't get superannuation on their paid parental leave until now, thanks to the Labor government—they are horrified. They had no idea of this inequity that exists, but it is a critical part of why there is profound inequality in the retirement incomes of Australian men and women. Every time women took a break from the workforce, they were being penalised not just by the lack of employer contributions but by no super being paid on their parental leave, even if it was paid by the government or their employer at the time.

We're demanding greater transparency and accountability on gender pay equity. We're reducing that really stubborn gender pay gap in Australia. It's down to 11.5 per cent now, but that is still too much. That's still too big a gap. It's the lowest it's ever been in Australia, which is shocking. There is a lot of hard work still to be done on that front.

We've made some major new investments into women's health. I'm so proud of the work that's been done there, from better access to contraception and menopause care to more support for women dealing with endometriosis and pelvic pain. For too long, women were just told that it's a woman's lot, and we've seen the sometimes catastrophic results of that really poor understanding of endometriosis and pelvic pain. Finally we've got dedicated clinics where women can walk in with confidence and know they'll be heard, listened to and taken seriously—and that pain is not something they have to live with for the rest of their lives.

These reforms matter. They matter because equality is not abstract. It's about whether a woman can afford to leave a violent relationship, whether she can return to work after having a child without being penalised for it, whether her work is properly valued, whether she can access the health care she needs, whether she can participate fully and safely in public life and whether the next generation of girls grows up with more freedom, more safety and more opportunity than the generation before. That's what real progress looks like—not just words but structural change.

Of course, the story of International Women's Day has always belonged not just to the parliaments but to the movements. Over the weekend I was so proud to see that spirit alive and well in Newcastle. On Friday evening I joined the Hunter Workers Women's Committee's International Women's Day Dinner that they held at Club Charlestown. It was a wonderful night of solidarity, community and celebration. On Sunday morning I was proud to stand with our community again as many marched in the International Women's Day rally and march at Gregson Park in Hamilton.

I want to put on record my sincere thanks for the Hunter Workers Women's Committee for the extraordinary amount of work that went into this entire weekend. On the Saturday they ran a whole festival of events for women, and these events don't happen without a lot of volunteering and collective effort. Year after year, the committee helps create space for women to come together in solidarity, to celebrate achievements and to reflect on the struggles that remain. I want to also give a shout-out to the remarkable Timeless Textiles and the Wednesday Makers Group. I was so honoured to launch the Inspiring Women in Stitch exhibition. Thank you for your creativity, skills and ongoing connection and work in our community. Happy International Women's Day.

Sarah Witty (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Friday morning I walked down Lygon Street in Carlton towards Trades Hall for the annual International Working Women's Day Rally. You could hear the crowd before you saw it. Women were calling to the gathering crowd through megaphones, and the steps of Trades Hall were already filled with union banners and handmade signs. There were students standing beside nurses, teachers beside hospitality workers and parents beside young people who were attending their first rally. It was a powerful reminder that in Melbourne the fight for equality has always been at the heart of who we are. The Victorian Trades Hall carries a rich history. For more than a century, women have gathered there to organise for fair pay, safer workplaces and the right to participate fully in our economy and our democracy. Standing there on Friday morning, you could feel the long stretch of history surrounding you as the next generation of women take up the fight.

International Women's Day always invites us to reflect on how far we have come. This year the Status of Women Report Card gives us some real reasons to feel encouraged. Australia is now ranked 13th in the world for gender equality. Just four years ago, we were ranked 43rd. Our national gender pay gap has fallen to 11.5 per cent, the lowest ever on record. Those improvements didn't happen by accident. They reflect decades of work by women in unions, community organisations and parliamentarians who pushed for change.

But the report card also reminds us that progress doesn't mean the work is finished. Across my electorate of Melbourne, our communities run on the work of women, but too often the systems around them struggle to reflect the realities of their lives. That was reinforced to me when I met with Carolyn and Wil from the Victorian Trades Hall Council. They came to my office to talk about the union movement called It's for Every Body. We spoke for a long time about the stories they were hearing from workers across Victoria, about how women undergoing IVF had quietly used up their annual leave because they had no other options, about workers returning to their jobs just days after miscarriage because they felt they had no choice. They also described people who had hidden medical appointments from their employers because they were worried it might affect their job security or career progression.

Listening to those stories made something very clear. Our workplaces have changed in many ways, but many of our leave systems were designed for a different time. They assume a worker who never needs reproductive health care, never needs flexibility and never experiences the interruptions that real life can bring. That's why the 'It's for Every Body' campaign is calling for 10 days of paid reproductive health leave. The idea behind it is simple: when someone needs treatment for endometriosis, fertility care or pregnancy loss, that is health care, and health care should never cost someone their job.

This is the same principle guiding the actions of this Labor government. We believe that women shouldn't face barriers to getting the care they need. That is why we are expanding access to cheaper medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, helping to reduce the treatments that many women rely on. Across the country, we are establishing endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics so women can receive earlier diagnosis and proper treatment. For decades many women living with chronic pain were told their symptoms were normal, exaggerated or simply something they had to live with. Too many were dismissed or left waiting years for answers. That culture is changing because women spoke up, shared their experiences and demanded that the system listen.

This government has also acted to protect dignity for families at some of the most difficult moments in life. Last year I spoke in support of Baby Priya's bill. Before that change, some parents who experienced the heartbreak of a stillbirth or the loss of a new child could also lose their employer funded paid parental leave. That meant families facing unimaginable grief could also lose the support they had been promised. The federal Labor government changed that, because equality is not only about opportunity when things are going well; it's also about dignity, compassion and fairness when life becomes incredibly hard.

Of course, health and economic security are only part of the story; safety must always come first. Across Australia, a woman is killed by a current or former partner, on average, every eight days. That number can sound like a statistic, but every one of those eight days is a life—a daughter, a friend, a mother who should still be here. That reality is why the Albanese government has committed more than $4 billion nationally to end gender based violence in one generation. That funding is strengthening frontline services, expanding crisis accommodation and supporting prevention programs that work with communities before violence occurs, in recognition that leaving violence is rarely a single moment—it requires housing, financial security and a support system that walks besides the woman every step of the way. At the same time, the report warns us about new challenges. Abuse through the use of technology is becoming more common, with tracking apps and digital monitoring tools used by predators to control partners. It is a reminder that the fight for equality evolves with the world around us.

Before becoming a parliamentarian, I spent many years working across businesses and community organisations in Melbourne. During that time I was often one of the only women in leadership positions. Around International Women's Day each year, I would often receive the same request: could you come and speak at our International Women's Day event and talk about being a woman in leadership? I would often talk about the first time I heard about subconscious bias. It was like a light-bulb moment. It wasn't something that I could really put my finger on, but once I heard that, I knew what was happening to me. Those conversations stayed with me because the same questions kept coming up: How do we make workplaces fairer? How do we support more women to move into leadership? For me, those questions led me to join EMILY's List. Through that network, I found a community of women who believe something powerful—if we want to see more women in leadership, we have to support each other to get there. Equality does not grow out of patience. It grows when women back each other, when communities organise and when systems are built to give everyone a fair chance.

International Women's Day reminds us that the progress we see today was built by generations before us, from the suffragette movement led by Vida Goldstein here in Melbourne to the union women who organised through Trades Hall and the hundreds of people who rallied at the same great building on Friday. Each generation builds on the work of the last. Today, Australia is making real progress. Our global ranking on gender equality is rising. The gender pay gap is at its lowest level ever recorded, and we are investing in policies that strengthen women's health, safety and economic security. But equality is not a destination we arrive at. It is a commitment we renew again and again, because the measure of a society is not simply how it distributes power; it is how it protects dignity, supports families and ensures that every woman and girl can live safely, work fairly and build the life she chooses. That is the work ahead of us, and it is the work this government will continue to do.

Sitting suspended from 13:31 to 15:59

Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

International Women's Day was last Sunday, 8 March. It's a wonderful celebration of the contributions of women across Australia and the world. As much as it is a celebration, though, International Women's Day is also a reminder that equality is something we need to defend, protect and advance every day of the year. That means confronting the inequalities that still exist within our own laws.

In 2026, our nation still lacks equality in our discrimination protections. A notable example of this is section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which provides carve-outs that allow religious education institutions to discriminate against staff and students on the basis of certain characteristics. These include somebody's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy. In effect, this provision enables faith based and religious education institutions to fire or refuse to hire staff, as well as to suspend, expel, refuse to enrol, or disadvantage students simply because they are gay, trans, pregnant, divorced or unmarried. Section 38 enables them to discriminate with impunity. In Australia's recent history, there are documented cases of teachers who've been dismissed, refused employment or pressured to resign for being gay, for marrying a divorcee, for becoming pregnant out of wedlock or even for becoming pregnant with the assistance of IVF. There are cases where students have been forced out of schools or denied leadership positions based on their sexuality. There are cases of children who have been denied enrolment because a parent is trans or because their parents are in a same-sex relationship. All of these instances are and remain lawful under section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act.

A version of these exemptions dates back to 1984, when Australia's Sex Discrimination Act was first introduced. It's been said that the exemptions which emerged at that time were in response to strong representations from private schools seeking the right to refuse to employ teachers in de facto relationships or women who became unmarried mothers. At the time, Labor stalwart Senator the Hon. Susan Ryan—no relation—was Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women. At that time, in 1984, she considered that the proposed exemption was not consistent with the objectives of the Sex Discrimination Act. She proposed that the exemption be subjected to a two-year sunsetting provision, and that, in the meantime, an inquiry into the provision be conducted by the commission. Ultimately, however, that exemption was passed without any time limit being attached. Subsequent inquiries by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner in 1992 and the Australian Law Reform Commission in 1994 both recommended repeal of section 38. It's hard to comprehend that we recognised back then what we seem unable to recognise now.

The Australia that passed those carve-outs, that allowed that discrimination in 1984, is not the Australia that we live in today. In the more than 50 years since, Australia has elected an unmarried female prime minister, it has legislated to legalise same-sex marriage and has become more open and more inclusive of the many diverse groups within our community, including the LGBTQIA+ community. Plainly, section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act no longer represents Australian values and beliefs about equality. It is an anachronism.

Today, religious schools, colleges and universities hold a really significant place in Australian public life. In 2022, about 1.4 million primary and secondary students attended faith based schools in Australia. Approximately 30 per cent of Australia's schools are faith based, and I'm proud to say that I attended one and my children have attended one. In some remote areas, faith based schools are the only educational institutions available to parents. Those institutions employ large numbers of people. In 2022, it was reported that non-government schools employed approximately 173,000 full-time equivalent teaching and non-teaching staff. Those numbers reflect the fact that faith based schools are a substantial part of our education system. They affect millions of Australians—students, staff, parents—every day.

It's for those reasons that the Labor government and the Prime Minister himself have been on record for years recommending their support for the removal of section 38. In 2022, Labor moved an amendment to that end. As opposition leader, the now prime minister took this policy to the 2022 election. He pledged then a commitment to reform antidiscrimination laws so that religious schools could no longer discriminate against their students and their staff.

Once the Prime Minister was elected, his government commissioned the Australian Law Reform Commission to conduct an inquiry into Australia's antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ students and staff in faith based schools. In 2024, the Australian Law Reform Commission released its final report into religious education institutions and antidiscrimination laws. That report, again, recommended that section 38 be repealed and that, instead, institutions should only be allowed to preference staff in line with their beliefs, so long as it was proportionate and reasonably necessary to maintaining a community of faith and so long as the expression of those preferences did not breach existing discrimination laws. Despite reportedly having a draft bill on hand to enact those changes, the Prime Minister has declined to make these simple changes unless there is bipartisan support—a situation which appears vanishingly unlikely.

I hope that with International Women's Day—a day to be celebrated—passing us for yet another year, we are reminded that equality and the progress of women and of other vulnerable groups in our community can never be guaranteed or taken for granted. There is no clearer example of this than the current federal legislation, which still permits active discrimination against women and against LGBTQIA+ people. That's federal legislation that was recommended for reform back in the 1990s. It is long past time that section 38 be repealed. I call on this government, with its supermajority, its dominance in the House and its stated commitment to this policy to action this repeal in this term of parliament.

Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a pleasure it is to speak today on this significant matter. It's also Queensland Women's Week this week. I am delighted to talk about International Women's Day, where we recognise the strength, resilience and achievements of women right across our country and the world. It is also an important moment to reflect on the barriers that women continue to face and the work that still lies ahead if we want to genuinely achieve equality. This year's theme is 'Balance the Scales', and it reminds us that progress towards equality requires collective effort. When governments, communities and individuals invest in women and girls, the benefits are felt right across families, workplaces and, indeed, the broader community.

International Women's Day is not just about celebration. It's also about honesty and acknowledging that, despite the progress we have made, women in Australia continue to experience inequality, discrimination and violence simply because of their gender. Addressing these issues requires sustained commitment, thoughtful policy and leadership at every level.

As a former domestic violence lawyer and CEO of Basic Rights Queensland, I have seen firsthand the impact that gender inequality and violence can have on women and their families. I've worked alongside women who have experienced profound hardship but who have also found incredible courage. I've also had the privilege of working with advocates, community organisations and frontline workers who dedicate their lives to ensuring that women are safe, respected and supported.

As the member for Bonner, I am proud of the Albanese Labor government, a government that has placed gender equality and women's safety at the centre of its agenda.

Last week, the Status of Women Report Card was released. This report provides an important annual assessment of the wellbeing of women in Australia. It examines the social, economic and safety outcomes experienced by women and evaluates how government policies and social attitudes are shaping progress towards equality. Importantly, the report provides insight into not only the progress that has been made but also the areas where challenges still remain.

There are some encouraging signs of progress. The report shows that the national gender pay gap continues to narrow and now sits at 11.5 per cent. While there is still work to be done, this represents a meaningful step forward and reflects the impact of policies designed to improve women's economic security. We are also seeing positive changes in caring roles within families. The report card highlights that more fathers are taking on primary caring responsibilities. In medium and large private-sector employers, men now account for 20 per cent of primary carer parental leave recipients, while 33 per cent of recipients of government funded paid parental leave are fathers or partners. That shift matters. Greater participation by men in caring roles supports gender equality at home and helps ensure women can pursue opportunities in education and, of course, the workforce.

The report also highlights progress in representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in highly skilled professional roles. More First Nations women are entering careers in fields such as health, education, environmental science and policy. This achievement reflects the strength and leadership of First Nations women and the importance of ensuring opportunities are accessible across all sectors. It also reflects that they have a genuine seat at the tables where decisions are being made.

Violence against women remains one of the most pressing issues facing our nation. We know that more than one woman a week was murdered last year in our country. Those murders have continued this year. The report also highlighted that nearly one in four women in Australia have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15. These figures remind us that gender based violence remains a national emergency. The report card also reveals the disproportionate impact of violence on First Nations women. First Nations women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised and 11 times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Women with a disability are also significantly more likely to experience violence from a current or former partner. Nearly two in three women with a disability will experience violence in their lifetime.

These findings reinforce an important truth: gender inequality intersects with other forms of inequality, and addressing violence requires targeted and sustained action. That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering the $4 billion National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. This plan represents the most comprehensive national strategy ever undertaken to address gender based violence. It includes significant investment in prevention, early intervention, crisis response and long-term recovery. It includes our commitment to 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave, ensuring that victim-survivors can take time away from work to seek safety and support. We've invested $1 billion in funding for crisis and transitional housing, recognising that safe and accessible accommodation is critical for those leaving violent relationships. We need to stop asking the question, 'Why doesn't she leave?' and start asking, 'Where would she go?' That is also why the Leaving Violence Program has been made permanent, with $5,000 in financial support available for women escaping violence.

The government has also taken action to ensure that government debts cannot be used as a further tool of financial abuse, recognising the complex way in which perpetrators exert control. Importantly, the Status of Women Report Card highlights that violence is evolving. Technology is increasingly being used to monitor, harass and control women. Our government has taken steps to criminalise deepfake pornography and image based abuse, with penalties of up to six years in prison, and to regulate online platforms through the eSafety Commissioner.

Women's health is another area where targeted action is critical. For too long, women's health had been under-researched, underfunded and under-recognised. The Albanese Labor government's women's health package is seeking to remedy that—an almost $800 million investment designed to address these gaps. This investment will help ensure that women and girls can access the health care they need throughout their lives. This includes improving access to contraception, reproductive health care, menopause support and specialist services. The Status of women report card highlights the importance of ensuring women can access health care that reflects their specific needs. Access to appropriate health care is not simply a medical issue; it is a matter of equity, dignity and also economic participation.

Gender equality cannot be achieved without economic equality. The Status of women report card also highlights that workforce segregation remains a persistent challenge, with four in five Australians working in occupations dominated by either men or women. This segregation contributes directly to the gender pay gap and limits opportunities for women across many industries. That is why the Albanese Labor government is taking practical steps to support women's economic security. That includes pay increases for workers in feminised industries such as aged care, early childhood, education and health care. These are essential professions that have historically been undervalued despite the critical role they play in our society.

Through free TAFE, more women are also entering industries traditionally dominated by men. Women commencing trade apprenticeships have increased by more than 30 per cent, and almost 60 per cent of free TAFE students are women. These programs are helping to expand career pathways and break down barriers. In my electorate of Bonner, I've met many women who are forging new paths in emerging industries. One example is Zaahra, an apprentice at the Tesla workshop in Mount Gravatt who is supported through the government's new energy apprenticeship scheme. As one of only a small number of female apprentices nationally within the organisation, she is helping demonstrate that careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy are open to women. Her story reflects the broader change that is occurring across the country.

Our government has also expanded and extended paid parental leave to 26 weeks and ensured that superannuation is paid on that leave, recognising that caring responsibility should not come at the expense of women's long-term financial security. The Status of women report card shows that meaningful change is possible when governments, communities and individuals work together, but it reminds us that equality is not inevitable. The persistence of gender based violence, the ongoing gender pay gap and the barriers women face in workplaces and communities show there is still much work to be done.

International Women's Day reminds us that the pursuit of equality is not only about improving outcomes for women and girls; it's about building a fairer, stronger and more inclusive Australia for everyone. As the member for Bonner, I am committed to continuing this fight.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

International Women's Day gives us an important opportunity each year to pause and recognise the women who shape our communities in quiet, determined and often extraordinary ways. It is a moment to celebrate achievement, to acknowledge leadership and to recognise the countless contributions women make every day to families, workplaces and community life across Australia.

Over the past week, I had the privilege of attending the Burundian community of South Australia's International Women's Day celebration with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in South Australia, Zoe Bettison, and the Mayor of Playford, Glenn Docherty—a warm and welcoming gathering that brought together families, community leaders and women from across the Burundian community. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate women's achievements, to share stories and to reflect on the role women play in strengthening multicultural communities here in Australia.

Events like this are incredibly important. They create space for connection, for reflection and for recognising the many women who contribute to building vibrant, resilient communities far from the countries where many first begin their journeys. Australia's story has always been shaped by migration, and communities like the Burundian community here in South Australia are a powerful reminder of that strength that cultural diversity brings to our nation.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16:19 to 16:32

The women in that community are leaders, mentors, mothers, business owners and community organisers. They help preserve culture and tradition while also building opportunities for the next generation of young Australians.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Emmanuel Bizimana, President of the Burundian Community of South Australia. Emmanuel's dedication to his community is evident in everything he does. Through leadership, organisation and an unwavering commitment to bringing people together he continues to create opportunities for the Burundian community to connect, celebrate and support one another. Leadership like that strengthens not just one community but the broader community we all share.

It was a privilege to attend this event and celebrate the achievements of Burundian women who are making a positive difference here in South Australia. These gatherings highlight something very important. When women from multicultural backgrounds are supported and empowered, the entire community benefits. Their voices, experiences and perspectives strengthen our national story. They help shape a society that is inclusive, compassionate and forward-looking.

As the federal member for Spence I often reflect on the remarkable woman our electorate is named after, Catherine Helen Spence. Catherine Spence was one of the most influential reformers in South Australian history. She was a writer, a social advocate and a passionate champion for fairness and democratic reform. At a time where women were largely excluded from public life, Catherine Spence stepped forward and made her voice heard. She advocated for electoral reform, for education and for a more just and representative society. Most famously, she became Australia's first female political candidate, running for election at a time when women were still fighting for the right to vote. That courage, that determination to speak up and advocate for change, helped shaped the democratic institutions we know today.

Her life reminds us that progress often begins with individuals who refuse to accept the limits placed upon them. Representing an electorate named after Catherine Spence is a great honour. It is a constant reminder that leadership means lifting others up, expanding opportunity and ensuring that every person, regardless of background, has a chance to contribute. The women we celebrate on International Women's Day carry fourth that same spirit. They lead in business, in sporting clubs, in volunteer organisations and in communities across the north.

Another event I had the pleasure of attending recently was the Gawler International Women's Day Breakfast, with James Agness, a candidate for Light, me, Nathan Shanks and councillors from Town of Gawler Council. This event has become a cherished tradition in the local community, bringing together women from across Gawler and the surrounding districts to celebrate leadership and community service. This year's breakfast was held at Nixon Function Centre, and it was completely sold out. The strong turnout says a lot about the value the Gawler community places on recognising women's achievements and sharing stories of leadership.

Guests gathered early in the morning to listen to a powerful and deeply personal address from Nicole Dempster, coordinator of The Haven in Gawler. Nicole spoke candidly about her remarkable 40-year career with South Australia Police. It was a career defined by dedication, professionalism and service to the people of South Australia. But Nicole's story did not end with her time in uniform. She also shared her journey of confronting and recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her willingness to speak openly about that experience was both courageous and inspiring. It reminded everyone in the room that strength is not just about perseverance through difficult moments; it's also about having the courage to seek help, to heal and to support others facing similar challenges. Her story resonated deeply with many in attendance, and reinforced the importance of supporting mental health and wellbeing in our communities.

The breakfast also recognised a number of extraordinary women whose dedication to community life in Gawler continue to make a lasting difference. These women represent the very best of local leadership, service and volunteerism. Shirley Banson was recognised for her services to the Gawler Bowling Club. Ann-Marie Bookman was honoured for her longstanding work supporting Gawler's environment and ecology. Melissa Hardy was acknowledged for her contributions to the Gawler town band, helping sustain an important cultural institution in the community.

Councillor Helen Hennessey was recognised for her dedication to promoting and preserving the history of the town of Gawler. Sarah Henson received recognition for her work in business and for her charitable initiatives, including her involvement with Love for Lobes. Erica Kokoschke was celebrated for her service to the Gawler VIEW Club. Marie-Louise Lees was acknowledged for her work with the Rotary Club of Gawler, contributing to projects that support the community locally and internationally. Katrina May was recognised for her service to the Gawler business community and her ongoing support for local enterprise.

Karen McColl was honoured for her enduring commitment to the Willaston Football Club, supporting generations of local players and families. Jayne Polito was recognised for her service to the Gawler and District Tennis Association, helping to grow participation in sport across the region.

Sondra Taylor received recognition for her contribution to the Gawler Show, an event that has long been a highlight of community life. Tanya Veldkamp was acknowledged for her service to the Gawler Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society. Belinda Wellington was recognised for her advocacy on women's health issues, an area of work that has helped raise awareness and provide support for many in community. Bianca Williams was honoured for her contributions to Co-op BLGW, strengthening local cooperation and community initiatives. And Kim Wright was recognised for her enduring commitment to the Gawler community through years of dedicated service.

Each of these women has made a lasting contribution to our community, often through volunteer work, through leadership and through countless hours spent supporting others. Their efforts remind us that community strength is built not just through large national decisions but through local action, through people who step forward to help organise events, run clubs, mentor young people, advocate for causes and create opportunities for others. That spirit of service is something we see across the north every single day. From multicultural community organisations and sporting clubs to volunteer groups and charities, women are often at the centre of these efforts. They organise, they lead, they support and they inspire. International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate those contributions, but it is also a reminder that the work of advancing equality and opportunity continues. Ensuring women have equal access to education, employment, leadership and community participation remains a priority, because when women succeed, communities grow stronger, families prosper, and societies become more inclusive and resilient.

These events I attended across the north this International Women's Day, from the Burundian community celebration to the Gawler breakfast, demonstrate the incredible contributions women make every day. They also remind us of something Catherine Spence understood more than a century ago: progress happens when people step forward to lift others up, it happens when communities support one another and it happens when we recognise the value of every voice. To the women we have celebrated today, thank you for everything you do. Thank you for your leadership, your service and your commitment to strengthening our communities. To all women across Australia and Adelaide's northern suburbs, happy International Women's Day.

Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This Sunday just gone, as we just heard, was International Women's Day, and the theme for that day was 'Balance the Scales'. It's a day when we reflect and honour the women and girls from all walks of life: young women, courageous women, inspiring women, pioneering women, girls growing up to be women, brave women, women who take on other people's burdens, radiant women, tenacious women and all the women in between. Women matter, and their voices matter.

For this International Women's Day, I joined the member for Griffith and the member for Moreton in the sea of pink at the Mater fun run in Brisbane. Mater Chicks in Pink exists so no woman has to face breast cancer alone. This year they raised more than $2 million in donations and had over 25,000 participants. The streets were alive with bright pink shirts, and it was truly a remarkable sight.

In the afternoon I returned to my high school, Mt St Michael's College, to deliver a keynote speech to the mothers and daughters at their high tea. At the event, I spoke about the importance of backing yourself and leaning into your values. I shared my story that speaks to how young girls and women have a place in our world, how they can lead and they can make a difference, and how, as others before us have done, we can use our experiences, our courage and resilience to better balance the scales.

While I believe each of us can make a difference on our own, I do believe we need women in decision-making roles to make those scales tip more quickly. I'm not talking about pushing men down. I'm talking about making sure we all rise. It's not a zero-sum game. There's not one winner nor one loser. Balancing the scales is not about asking for special treatment; it's about ensuring that when decisions are made—whether it be in this House, in business, in schoolrooms, in churches, in homes—women are present.

Here in Australia, we are beginning to see some real change take form. Throughout history, I think it's fair to say, Labor has been a progressive force for women, establishing many of the reforms and initiatives that continue to drive gender equality to this day. But having women in key government decision-making roles had been slow. When I think about the first federal Labor woman in cabinet, it was Senator Susan Ryan, and that started back in 1983. What a trailblazer she was, the architect of the Sex Discrimination Act. Slowly, over time, more and more women were elected to parliament and have taken on significant roles. In our party, how can we forget Julia Gillard, who became our first female prime minister in 2010? Jump forward 16 years and what do we see? This Labor government is the first majority woman federal government, with women making up 52 per cent of the Labor caucus. The Albanese Labor government's cabinet is now the first ever federal cabinet to be gender equal, with women comprising 11 of the 22 positions.

The representation of women in Labor is not by accident, and I talked a lot about this on Sunday. On 26 September 1994, the ALP made a historic decision to introduce quotas for women. It was highly controversial. I remember it at the time. There were arguments on merit versus tokenism, but over time the party found accomplished women to run for seats, and that rule changed the culture and a process. The facts speak to its success. The parliamentary Labor team has swelled from under 10 per cent women in 1989 to over 50 per cent now. Further, in May last year, seven of the nine representatives who won in Queensland were women. Their CVs are impressive and they're doing a great job. The tokenism argument is gone.

We know that getting women elected matters because it means we can drive the change that women need. We make up half the population, and yet our issues are often misunderstood, dismissed or ignored. I want to say to women all across the country and in my seat of Brisbane: you matter, and this Labor government is listening and delivering.

Let's start with health. For far too long, women's health has been overlooked, underfunded and misunderstood, even though it's central to women's equality. Last year, our government announced a landmark women's health package, investing almost $800 million in women's health. The investment improves access to long-term contraceptives, provides better support to women experiencing chronic pelvic pain and supports those with menopause conditions. This includes funding 11 additional endometriosis clinics and expanding all 33 clinics to provide specialised menopause care.

Since this historic health package was announced, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than two million cheaper scripts. Before Yaz, Yasmin and Slinda were listed, women were paying around $380 a year for their contraception, and now they're paying only $25 a script. Before EstroGel was listed, women could have paid up to $670 a year, and now they're only paying $25 a script, or $7.70 if they're on concession. Since this package was announced, more than 71,000 women have received Medicare funded menopause health assessments. Since 1 November last year, women in Brisbane have also had access to affordable IUDs and birth control implants, as have women around the country. Women asked the government to take their health seriously, and this Labor government is delivering.

Let's look at the workplace. The Albanese government centred gender equality as a key economic issue at the Jobs and Skills Summit. They expanded paid parental leave. They increased funding for child care. They made gender equality an object of the Fair Work Act. They introduced paid family and domestic violence leave. They funded and legislated the implementation of all 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work report. They finalised the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children They finalised Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence. The government also established the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce and began work on a national strategy to achieve gender equality. In 2022, Labor introduced legislation forcing companies, especially those with over 100 employees, to publish their gender pay gaps. There's a lot going on.

On 7 March 2024, the Australian government's Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality was launched by the Minister for Women, the Hon. Katy Gallagher, outlining the government's vision for gender equality. Alongside that announcement, the Albanese Labor government announced that superannuation will now be paid on parental leave. The government has also taken very strong steps to support working women with the three-day childcare guarantee.

Let's briefly talk about housing. It was this government that passed the legislation to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund. More women are buying their homes with five per cent deposits. We're investing in crisis accommodation. In response to the unacceptable rates of violence against women that continue across Australia, the Albanese government has taken a national leadership role and convened National Cabinet meetings on gender based violence. The Commonwealth, states and territories have agreed to increased action to address this violence, and the Commonwealth has made a range of investments. A couple that I'll mention are the $1 billion in the new Leaving Violence Program and the $4.4 billion that followed in September, which includes funding to support legal assistance.

The majority-women Albanese government continues to invest in women, putting women and gender equality at the centre of Australia's economic plan and making women's lives safer, fairer and more equal. When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive and society becomes safer and better for everyone.

Government plays an important role in driving change for women and girls across the country. This government, as you've heard, has done a lot, but we do have more to do. I'm really proud to be a member of this Labor government that backs women and delivers for them. I also say to the women across the country and in Brisbane that, if you're questioning yourself—and we had some of these discussions at the event at Mt St Michael's—just think a little bit. Maybe channel a bit of Michelle Obama: 'Am I good enough? Yes, I am.' Or maybe hear the words of our first Australian astronaut:

Every day you need to believe it's going to happen.

Happy International Women's Day.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 16:50