International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognise the progress women are making across our economy and society.
It is also an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary women in our lives who symbolise advancement, equality, and empowerment.
My mum was a nurse who trained at the Royal Melbourne and went on to care for children with severe disabilities.
Her compassion and commitment to care was a great inspiration, and today, it drives me in my role as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
I am proud today to be part of the first federal government in Australian history with a majority of women parliamentarians.
Since 2019, I’ve had the immense pleasure of representing the people of Corangamite as the local federal member.
Over recent years, the voices and experiences of women have helped change public perception and importantly, policies that provide better outcomes, not just for women but for our society.
And under the Albanese government, the voices and experiences of women are changing public policy.
You can see, across every portfolio, this has made a difference.
The experience and perspective of women and children is driving our actions on family and sexual violence law reform.
The gender pay gap is at a record low, with the participation rate reaching a historic high.
All 55 recommendations of the ‘Respect@Work’ report are being implemented, to improve behaviours in the workplace, workplace conditions and employee support.
We’ve taken new action on pay equity and pay transparency and we are delivering a tax cut for every Australian woman taxpayer commencing on July 1.
Labor’s tax cuts will put more money back in the pockets of Australian women to provide cost of living relief and will mean if women want to pick up an extra shift or an extra day of work, they keep a larger proportion of what they earn.
These are just some of the changes that have seen Australia climb from 43rd in the Global Gender Gap rankings to 26th.
To sum up what I stand for, it is a fair future for our local communities.
I entered politics mostly because of my beautiful daughters Lily and Isobel. They made me think about the future I would wish for them – a world that is respectful, sustainable and inclusive.
