Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge International Women's Day. This year's United Nations Women Australia theme is Balance the Scales. It's a theme that reminds us that gender equality does not happen by chance. It requires deliberate action to ensure fairness, opportunity and safety for women and girls in every part of our society. Balancing the scales speaks to the reality that, despite the progress we have made, women across the world and here in Australia continue to face barriers in leadership, economic participation, safety and representation. Achieving true equality requires us to recognise these imbalances and act intentionally to correct them.

This message is reinforced in the Status of Women Report Card, recently released by the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. The report highlights that, while Australia is making progress in advancing gender equality, significant challenges remain, particularly in areas such as women's safety, economic security and representation in leadership. Encouragingly, the report notes that Australia has improved its global standing on gender equality, rising to 13th in the world—our highest ranking to date. Yet the report also reminds us that gender equality cannot be taken for granted. Persistent issues—such as the gender pay gap, unequal caring responsibility and gender based violence—continue to affect the lives of many women. These realities underscore why the call to balance the scales is so important.

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending an inspiring International Woman's Day celebration organised by the Multicultural Women's Council of Tasmania. The event reflected the spirit of this year's theme and brought together women from many different cultural backgrounds to celebrate leadership, resilience and community. I particularly acknowledge the leadership of commend the leadership of the chair, Sajini Sumar, whose dedication to empowering multicultural women in Tasmania continues to make a profound difference. Through the work of the council, women from diverse communities are given a stronger voice, greater visibility and greater opportunities to participate fully in civic life. The event hosted Lara Giddings, the first female premier of Tasmania. Lara's leadership and service remain an important reminder of the progress women have made in political life and of the responsibility we have to continue opening doors for the next generation of women leaders. Lara also delivered the keynote address.

I was also honoured to receive an award from the Multicultural Women's Council of Tasmania during the event. I accept that recognition with humility and gratitude. It reflects the collective efforts of many women and community leaders who continue to advocate for fairness, inclusion and opportunity. I want to thank the council for this recognition and, more importantly, for the vital work they do every day. Their commitment to empowering women and celebrating diversity strengthens our community and enriches our democracy.

International Women's Day is, of course, a moment to celebrate achievement, but it's also a moment to recommit ourselves to action. Balancing the scale means ensuring women are safe in their homes and communities. It means ensuring women have equal opportunity in education, employment and leadership. It means ensuring that women from multicultural backgrounds, whose voices are sometimes underrepresented, are heard, valued and supported. Events like the one hosted by the Multicultural Women's Council of Tasmania remind us that progress often begins at the community level, where women come together to support one another, share their stories and build pathways for those who follow. As we mark International Women's Day this year on 8 March, we reflect on what we can do in our institutions, in our communities and in our workplaces to truly balance the scales.

Finally, I can extend my congratulations to all of the remarkable women who continue to make a difference in our communities every day. Your leadership, courage and dedication inspire us all.