Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Don't you like women getting a better share of the tax cuts there, Senator Bragg? Don't you like the gender pay gap lowering to the lowest on record, with women earning $217.40 more per week on average than they did when we came to government. There are 600,000 new jobs for women and record-high labour participation. Why? Because we are making investments in early childhood education and care and in the care economy so more women can have more choices and more opportunities. If they choose to work an extra day, then that opportunity is available to them.

We've seen investments in skills, like free TAFE and the establishment of the Commonwealth prac payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work. That will, of course, support women who are undertaking those courses. And, of course, we cut the HECS debt. This morning the Senate passed that very important reform. We've reformed indexation. Women are 60 per cent of HECS debt holders, and the reforms passed by this parliament will help them enormously.