Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As we mark International Women's Day this weekend, we should reflect on the barriers that women are still facing in the workplace and in their homes. For many women across Western Australia, the reality is still one of insecurity, of violence and of systems that are struggling to keep up with demand. In my home state, around three in 10 women have experienced physical, sexual or economic abuse by a partner. While demand for support is increasing, frontline organisations are grappling with funding uncertainty and cuts to domestic violence services.

We also find ourselves, in the month of March, which is Endometriosis Awareness Month, shining a light on a condition affecting around one in nine Australian women and girls. Time and time again in this chamber I've raised the broader question of how the policies we debate in this place support reproductive health and women's continued participation in the workforce, should they so choose. Around the country, unions are campaigning for 10 days of paid reproductive health leave covering IVF, menopause, endometriosis, miscarriage and other reproductive needs. Yesterday, the Labor senator for Tasmania Josh Dolega brought up this gap in industrial relations legislation, expressing his support behind the union's campaign. But where is his party on this important reform? I haven't seen it on any legislative drafts. I would have thought that, when we were debating Baby Priya's law last year, we could have dealt with the legislation in a more holistic way. So while it's great we have a Labor caucus that has a majority of women and, therefore, is increasing our numbers in this chamber, let's put that representation into action through properly funding domestic violence services and to implement the 10 days of reproductive leave that unions are calling for. (Time expired)