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

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that for over a century, Australian women have played an integral role in Australia's defence forces;

(2) recognises that women have served with exceptional skill, sacrifice, bravery and dedication across all theatres of war; and

(3) thanks all the women who served and continue to serve for their contribution to the safety and security of our nation.

Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

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

It's a great honour to present this motion here today, as women have played a role in our Defence Force since 1899. Today, 20 per cent of our service personnel are women. Whilst their sons, husbands, fathers and brothers answered their country's call, so too have successive generations of daughters, wives, mothers and sisters.

When World War I broke out, the role of most women in Australia was that of unpaid homemaker. Whether married or single, women generally stayed home to look after the household and any children or dependants. During the four ensuing years of war, many women took on different paid and unpaid war roles, serving in the Australian Army as nurses, volunteering in the Red Cross, working for soldiers' comfort funds and raising funds for wartime charities that worked overseas.

In World War II, almost a third of working-age women would participate in paid work, many in roles unavailable to them before the war. Valuable duties were also performed by women volunteers, often without any government funds, to address manpower shortages. During this time, the Australian Women's Army Service, Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force, Women's Royal Australian Naval Service and the Australian Women's Land Army were established to free men from non-combat roles with women who filled crucial positions as cooks, drivers, agricultural labourers, signallers, intelligence and anti-aircraft gun crewing. Many of these women were born and bred in my community or would later settle in the Lyne electorate. They were women like Mary May Hogan, from Cundletown, who joined the Australian Women's Army Service in June 1943 and, as part of the Central Bureau, an Allied intelligence unit, intercepted and deciphered Japanese military and naval radio messages; Uraine Harper, who joined the Women's Royal Australian Air Force during World War II and later settled in Taree; Doreen Rosenbaum, who joined the Australian Women's Army Service in World War II; Dorothy Greening, who served in Tripoli, Crete, Borneo and Singapore as part of the Australian Army Nursing Service in World War II; Dulcie Balderstone, who enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in December 1944 and worked as a stores clerk; and Una Keast, a young nurse who keen for adventure, who signed up to serve as soon as war was declared in 1939. During the course of World War II, Una nursed under canvas in the war zones of Greece, narrowly escaping German invasion; in the trenches in Crete; in the dust in the Middle East; and in the jungles of New Guinea.

They included Eunice Hilda Oakeley, who joined the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps and became an invaluable supporter of the local veteran community; Annie Beatrice May Starling, who was posted to Rocky Creek in the Atherton Tablelands, a 2,000 bed hospital under canvas, and then in Borneo treated POWs before eventually returning home and settling in Tiri in the Upper Manning; Lucy Monk, a Taree local, who was part of the 52nd Search Light Battery; and sister Hannah Pankhurst, who at the age of 22 enlisted with the 3rd Australian General Hospital in July 1915 and commenced duty on Lemnos, where she took care of the Gallipoli wounded. She later was moved to Cairo and then Brighton Hospital in England before eventually returning to the Manning and continuing her lifelong career and devotion to nursing at the Manning River District Hospital. There are many of my constituents today that remember her great work there.

We will be forever proud and grateful for the contributions of all Australian women who served and are serving today. Indeed, I had the great pleasure last year, when I participated in my first Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program, at Williamtown, to be hosted by Wing Commander Vicky Bezuidenhout, who's the senior commanding officer there. It was a great program, and I thank her most sincerely for her support while I was there.

As I come to conclude here, I want to thank the President of the Taree sub-branch of the RSL for his discussion with me at the Taree Hub Market that led to this motion today and for our meeting last week in front of the fantastic display at Club Taree, which recognises local women who've served. We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion acknowledges the profound and enduring contribution of women to the Australian Defence Force for over a century. While women today serve in every capacity across our Navy, Army and Air Force, we must remember that this path was paved by the extraordinary courage of those who came before. In my electorate of Bullwinkel, named in honour of a true Australian heroine, we are reminded daily of the debt we owe to Lieutenant Colonel Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and her colleagues.

To appreciate the security and freedom we enjoy today, we must look back to February 1942. Vivian Bullwinkel was one of 65 Australian nurses who reluctantly evacuated Singapore aboard the SS Vyner Brooke due to the Japanese invasion. When the ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft, Vivian and a group of survivors eventually washed ashore on Bangka Island. What followed remains one of the most harrowing chapters in our military history.

On that ratty beach, 22 surviving Australian nurses who, under the Geneva Convention, should have been taken as prisoners of war were instead ordered to march out into the ocean. They knew what was coming. Vivian recalled Matron Irene Drummond saying, 'Chin up, girls; I'm proud of you, and I love you all.' They walked with their heads held high, supporting one another, displaying a calm dignity that defied the horror of the moment, and they were mowed down by machine-gun fire. Vivian was the sole survivor, only a few years older than my own daughter is today. Struck by a bullet that passed through her hip, she feigned death until the captors left. For 12 days she hid in the jungle caring for a wounded British soldier before she was forced to surrender and spend 3½ years as a prisoner of war in trying conditions.

Vivian Bullwinkel did not just survive. She bore witness and later testified at the war crimes tribunal in Tokyo, and she carried the memory of her 21 sisters in arms back to the Australian shores. She ensured that their sacrifice was not lost to the tides of Bangka Island but was instead etched into the soul of our nation. Vivian's story is the pinnacle of a century-long narrative. From the Australian Army Nursing Service in World War II to the intelligence officers, pilots and combat medics serving in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific today, women have been serving our nation with remarkable contributions.

As the member for Bullwinkel, I am humbled to represent the electorate that carries her name. We do not just honour a person; we honour a standard of selfless service. Let us use this motion to recommit ourselves to supporting women currently serving in the ADF, ensuring that they have the resources, the respect and the recognition they deserve. We stand on the shoulders of giants like Vivian Bullwinkel and her 21 fallen colleagues, including Alma Beard from Toodyay, which is in my electorate. We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Member for Bullwinkel, for that fine contribution.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In joining the motion, I want to not only commend the member for Lyne for presenting it to the Federation Chamber today but also congratulate the member for Bullwinkel not only on her election but on her fine tribute to Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel and the extraordinary story of courage and heroism which occurred on Bangka Island.

In that vein, I think it's important that we not only recognise all Australian servicewomen who are serving today and thank them for their service but also thank our veterans for their service to our nation over the past 100 years. It's an incredible contribution to the safety and security of Australia that has been made by women in uniform, and it's something that I think is only appropriate that the House recognises today.

Today women make up about 20 per cent of the Australian Defence Force workforce. In the Navy, it's about 24 per cent; Air Force, 25 per cent; and Army, 15 per cent. I know the service chiefs across all three are working to increase the level of female representation in each of our forces. It's important to note that, since 1899, women have served in the Australian armed forces, but it's only since 2013, when camp combat roles opened up to women—and by 2016 all roles, including special forces entry, were open to women—that they were fully able to participate in any role in the Australian Defence Force. That has been an extraordinary capability boost for our service personnel.

I've been very fortunate in this place to participate in the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program and also serve as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. In that time, I have been exposed to a number of women in leadership roles who have impressed me enormously. I can recall being on a naval patrol boat off the coast of Darwin. The commander of the ship was a female officer, and the way she managed her crew was something quite extraordinary and impressed me enormously.

I remember another occasion where I was on the deck of one of the Australian naval vessels, and there was a young lady there who would have been no more than 25 or 26. It looked like she could have been your typical hairdresser standing beside this burly guy of 120-odd kilos with a big, bushy beard. The reason she looked like she could have been your typical hairdresser was that that's what she was before she joined the Navy. This young lady, at 25 or 26, was actually the officer in charge, teaching the big, burly 120-kilo fellow how to do that job. It just goes to demonstrate that you should never assume anything, when it comes to Australian Defence Force, about who's in charge and who's actually giving the instructions.

I have met women in leadership roles in our military who have been some of the finest Australians that I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with. I think about Lieutenant General Natasha Fox. Natasha is serving today. She is the first female deputy chief of Army and the inaugural chief of personnel. She has been extraordinary in her efforts to improve the transition for our Australian Defence Force personnel.

I think about Air Vice Marshal Tracy Smart, a former surgeon general of the ADF. Tracy has retired, but she continues to work tirelessly to support veterans and the wellbeing of their families. I think about the aide-de-camps I had the great fortune of working with: Fiona, Lisa and Libby. Their organisational skills were extraordinary—even trying to keep a recalcitrant National Party minister on time to get to the right place at the right time!

The one who has stuck in my mind most recently is Major General Liz Cosson. Liz was the first female major general of the Army, and, not satisfied with that extraordinary achievement, when she retired from uniform she went on to become the first secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. During my time as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Liz was an incredibly important ally in terms of working to improve outcomes for veterans and their families. Her lived experience, I think, made her perhaps more empathetic than other secretaries in the Public Service may have been. Without her support, we would not have been able to bring in the reforms that we were able to bring in, and under her guidance and her leadership I am confident that we set in train some reforms which will continue to deliver long-term benefits for veterans and their families.

I want to finish where I started, in commending the member for Lyne for bringing this motion to the chamber to say, 'Thank you for your service,' to all Australian Defence Force personnel and our veteran community and, finally, to recognise the incredible role that women have played and continue to play in the Australian Defence Force. I wish them safety, security and good fortune as they continue to keep us safe. Thank you for your service. Lest we forget.

Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to support this motion and thank the member for Lyne for bringing it before the House. This motion matters because it recognises two things at once: first, the long service record by women in the Australian Defence Force and, second, the very deliberate reforms that are changing the shape of the force today.

For more than a century, Australian women have served, initially in nursing support roles and often in a volunteer capacity and without recognition or equal opportunity. Australian author Miles Franklin was a volunteer orderly and cook with the Scottish Women's Hospital in Macedonia from 1917 to 1918, supporting the Serbian army during World War I, working at the Ostrovo field hospital under extremely difficult conditions, treating wounded soldiers and fighting the typhus epidemic. In more recent times, Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel's story as the sole survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre has become widely known and celebrated, and I join with the member for Bullwinkel's remarks about that extraordinary story and life of service.

Today, women are engaged across all services and make up more than 25 per cent of new recruits each year. I personally joined the signals corps in the Australian Army Reserve, and back then was a time when women's roles were perhaps more limited. Notwithstanding that we were trained for combat, we invariably didn't have combat-facing roles to serve within. Since then, there's been real progress. All roles in the ADF have been open to women since 2016, serving across the land, the sea, the air, cyber and space. Importantly, we're on track to increase women's participation further over the next decade, driven by our stronger recruitment and better retention strategies.

The outstanding performance of our female officers is being recognised. Three were made members of the Order of Australia this year: Air Commodore Maria Brick, for her service in legal work and staff appointments; Group Captain Aleisha Broadhead, for her contributions to the F-35A Lightning II introduction and to air traffic management; and Wing Commander Nadia Harrison, for developing expeditionary cyberspace capabilities. And there were many more who were recognised for their professionalism and achievements.

Earlier this year, at the last post ceremony marking the commencement of parliament, I had the opportunity to meet a number of women serving at the very centre of defence leadership. These are not symbolic roles; they are operational, high-trust positions supporting the most senior leaders in the ADF. They include Captain Olivia Bowman-Wall, serving as the aide-de-camp to the Chief of the Defence Force, Flight Lieutenant Ayah Khalid, the aide-de-camp to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant Geraldine Gray of the Royal Australian Navy, aide-de-camp to the Chief of Personnel, Lieutenant Millicent Nye, aide-de-camp to the Chief of Joint Capabilities, and Flight Lieutenant Leah Park, aide-de-camp to the Minister for Defence Industry. These roles require judgement, discretion and a detailed understanding of how Defence operates at the highest level. They are often given to people who are expected to hold significant leadership roles and positions in the future. Alongside them I also met two of the most senior officers in the ADF, Lieutenant General Natasha Fox, AO CSC, Chief of Personnel, who is responsible for the workforce that underpins the entire Defence organisation, and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM CSC DSM, Chief of Joint Capabilities, the first woman to lead a warfighting capability domain in the ADF. These are not modest achievements. They reflect a Defence Force that is beginning to shift at its most senior levels, something that has taken time and care to achieve and something we can all be proud of.

I was very proud to have my picture taken alongside these women. Our modern Defence Force cannot afford to draw from only part of the population; it needs the full range of talent, skills and experience available to it. The pipeline matters. Recruitment is strong. Early retention is improving. But command-track participation and senior representation are where the next gains must be made. So today we recognise more than a century of service. We recognise the women who have served when opportunities were limited and those serving today with far greater scope. To all the women who have served and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force directly and those who work in support of their partners who are active members: your service is strengthening the Australian Defence Force, and I thank you.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion rightly acknowledges, recognises and thanks the women who have served and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force. Australian women have been a central part of our Defence Force for over a century, in every element of our forces. From the beginning of the Anzac legend in World War I, when women served as nurses on the front lines, to today's personnel operating across land, sea, air and cyber domains, their contribution has been constant, essential and, too often, sadly under-recognised.

Throughout all conflicts involving Australia, our nation's women have been there to protect and care for us, sacrificing their own lives for ours. In World War II, women played a critical role in protecting Australian shores from potential Japanese invasion. With many of our soldiers fighting in Europe and South-East Asia at the time, it was up to the women at home to take up the fight. Thus, the Women's Australian National Service was formed, followed by the Australian Women's Army Service, the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service and the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force. In total, over 50,000 women served in these groups.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing 21 Hearts. This is a theatre production by Theatre 180 about the compelling true story of Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke. When leaving Singapore following the Japanese invasion, the group's ship was bombed, forcing the nurses to spend days at sea before finding Radji Beach on Bangka Island, where they surrendered. Despite surrendering to and treating the Japanese soldiers for their injuries, the 22 nurses were forced into the water, where they were shot at. It was one of the most shocking and vile instances of war. With the nurses turning and facing towards the horizon, as they walked into the ocean, they were machine-gunned down. This was on 16 February 1942. It doesn't feel like such a long time ago. Just one nurse survived to tell of the ordeal, and that was Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel. I just want to give a shout-out because that production has now left Western Australia and is travelling around the east coast with the support of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. So I say to anybody out there: please, look out for the wonderful story of 21 Hearts. This story symbolises the courage, strength and resilience all women in our Defence Force have shown over many years.

Whether serving in logistics, intelligence, combat support, peacekeeping missions or, now, fully integrated combat roles, women in the Australian Defence Force have demonstrated professionalism of the highest order. They have led troops, piloted many aircraft, commanded many naval vessels and contributed to complex operations both at home and abroad. Servicewomen have broken down barriers not just for themselves but for future generations, who now see defence service as a path open to all Australians, regardless of gender. Today, around 20 per cent of our defence force are women. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, but, personally, I would like to see that increased to reach the goal of at least 25 per cent by 2030.

Challenges are still being felt by our servicewomen, with underrepresentation in combat and technical roles. While increasing representation is, of course, critical, it is equally important to recognise that the challenges facing servicewomen do not end when their service does. We must all do better to support our women veterans, who are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to civilian women. Eighty per cent of victims of military sexual misconduct are women, with 25 per cent of women experiencing sexual harassment in the last five years in an ADF workplace. That's just shocking. Of course, these numbers are simply too high, and more must be done to better acknowledge and support women in their service of Australia.

I would like to acknowledge the member for Lyons, who has brought this very, very important motion to the House, and I would like to acknowledge the member for Bullwinkel, who spoke previously about Vivian Bullwinkel and her incredible courage. I want to acknowledge that it's just a wonderful thing that we now have a federal seat named after Vivian Bullwinkel.

Emma Comer (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For more than a century, women have been part of Australia's defence story. Their contribution has been central to how our nation has protected itself and supported others in times of conflict and crisis. From the very beginning, women chose to serve their country, often without the recognition, opportunities or pathways afforded to their male counterparts. They stepped forward regardless, motivated by a strong sense of duty and a deep commitment to our nation. For far too many years, women were largely confined to nursing and support roles, but over time that contribution has evolved significantly. Women in uniform now serve in every command of the ADF and across the full spectrum of national service roles and specialties. They operate across land, sea, air, cyber and space, reflecting both the changing nature of warfare and the growing recognition of their capabilities. What has remained constant, however, is the standard of service and the ability to rise to any occasion. Australian women in uniform have consistently demonstrated professionalism, courage and resilience, whether serving in combat zones, contributing to peacekeeping missions or responding to humanitarian disasters here and abroad. Women like Olive King, Vivian Bullwinkel and Florence McKenzie were trailblazers that cleared the way to allow women like myself to enter officer training at Duntroon. I'm proud to be a small part of a large history of women who put themselves forward to serve their nation.

In the modern Australian Defence Force, women are no longer in the margins. They are leaders, specialists and decision-makers. They command units, manage complex operations and contribute to some of the most technically advanced areas of defence. Just last week, I was at the Gallipoli Barracks Open Day, commemorating 125 years of the Australian Army. I got to meet Brigadier Jennifer Harris, a senior Australian Defence Force officer who is a shining example of how women are now serving in critical leadership positions within the ADF.

That said, progress has not come overnight. While women have been serving in uniform for generations, access to combat roles was only opened to women in 2016. That milestone marked a significant shift, but it also highlights how recent some of these changes have been. The growing presence of women has strengthened Defence not only in capability but in culture. The hard work of women throughout the history of the ADF has made it crystal clear that inclusion and diversity is one of our greatest strengths, making the ADF one of the best defence forces in the world.

Today, women serve across every command and every speciality, from flying fighter jets to working in cyber operations, from frontline Army to complex intelligence and logistics functions. They are a vital part in Australia's defence capability. Women now make up more than a quarter of the Defence workforce, and their contribution continues to grow. They bring skill, determination and leadership to their roles, strengthening the ADF in every way.

At the same time, it's important to acknowledge that many women have faced challenges throughout their service. When I was in training, the bridging programs were not appropriately designed to accommodate for the lighter body weight of women. I suffered an injury as a result, and so did many of my female colleagues. Everyone in this parliament would agree that we should not lower the fitness requirements of the military. However, when I was in training, it was clear that we needed to be accommodating of different body types. It was clear that a one-size-fits-all approach risks sidelining capable recruits. I saw too many strong, determined women leave—individuals who had the potential to make significant contributions to our Defence Force.

That's why I have since raised this directly with the former chief of defence force Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston, who is now Chancellor of the University of Sunshine Coast, and I've raised this with the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, advocating for a more considered approach that maintains standards whilst recognising difference. I will continue to advocate for a defence force that upholds readiness and capability, while ensuring that we are getting the best out of every person who has signed on the dotted line.

My electorate of Petrie has over 5,000 veterans. Many of them are women. These women have had to fight to be included in all aspects of the ADF, fight to be equal to their male counterparts and fight for the respect they deserve whilst fighting to defend our nation. If we are serious about building a defence force that is ready for the future, we must continue that work. Supporting women in defence, removing the remaining barriers and fostering an environment where everyone can contribute fully is not just the right thing to do; it is essential to maintaining a capable and ready force. Today we acknowledge and thank the women who have served and who continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force. For their skill and for their courage, I recognise them and respect them.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Petrie, and I thank her for her service too. I call the member for Fisher.

Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to 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.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.