Catherine King
Ballarat · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“NSW Government has been working to develop an engineering solution and a procurement process in parallel. That's not normally how it works, but they've been trying to expedite that as quickly as possible to work out the way forward. There's been a detailed and careful process to do that because we know we can't take shortcuts with this.”
“I thank the member for Calare for his question, and I also acknowledge the member for Macquarie for her advocacy. She's been in my office consistently about this on behalf of the Blue Mountains community.”
“They will then work with my department on a specific funding request, but I spoke to Minister Aitchison on Friday to signal my support for the Commonwealth assisting in what we know is a very significant piece of infrastructure not just for the Blue Mountains but also the member for Calare's community.”
“It's a little bigger than Navigators, with around 350 households, and I was there last week to celebrate beloved local postie Lyn McNight, who has been delivering the mail for 27 years.”
“We're continuing to invest across the country in transport routes from road to rail, whether it be the completion of Metronet or, today, the start of construction of the new Swan electric ferry fleet. The Suburban Rail Loop and North East Link in Melbourne are providing critical links across Melbourne's suburban network.”
“When considering the Ballarat electorate, you might think of the City of Ballarat itself, with its gold rush buildings, its gardens, our lakes, Sovereign Hill and many proud local manufacturers, like McCain, Mars and Haymes Paint, or our cafes and restaurants, which will soon be battling it out again for the annual Ballarat's Best Pie com…”
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“At the meeting, state and territory ministers agreed to develop an integrated regulatory framework for these devices to improve rider and pedestrian safety. That work is being led by the Western Australian government with support from the National Transport Commission. It will consider issues including compliance, regulation, rules for use, and the development and ongoing monitoring of standards. This work will report back to infrastructure and transport ministers later this year. Additionally, there have also been concerns raised around fires caused by poor-quality lithium-ion batteries. Work is currently already underway through the Consumer Ministers Network on a national approach to the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in these devices under the Australian Consumer Law.”
“They are the subject of inquiries in both Queensland—I acknowledge the Queensland members of parliament who are here—and WA at the moment, because it has largely been states' and territories' regulatory systems that have seen e-bikes and e-scooters allowed in a range of settings across our local communities. As I understand the member's private member's bill, it focuses on listing specific types of mobility devices as road vehicles under a system that has largely been designed for cars and trucks on roads. It is clear that a broader and coordinated national system is needed for both the safer use and the regulation of these devices. It is why, at the meeting of state and territory transport ministers last month, I placed this issue on the agenda.”
“I thank the member for Mackellar for the question and for her advocacy for the safer use of what are called 'personality mobility devices' in our communities. The member is right that e-scooters and e-bikes both bring a range of benefits to our communities through encouraging more active transport and reducing our reliance on cars. We're particularly seeing an increase of families in inner cities and suburbs using these devices to help kids get to school. However, these devices do also bring risks. I know we have recently seen a number of tragic incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters.”
“We know that, last week, legislation to see scripts costing no more than $25 from 1 January next year passed this House. We hope that it passes the Senate this week. The last time scripts were this low was back in 2004, over 20 years ago. Over the last three years, we've worked incredibly hard to make sure Australian women are heard when it comes to their health care, to help with the cost of living, to lift standards of living for women and to strengthen Medicare. It makes a difference for women across this country.”
“We've also opened over 22 endo and pelvic pain clinics go, with 11 more of them to come, again making a significant and material difference for women across this country. From 1 July 2025, as I said, two new Medicare benefits schedule items were introduced for menopausal and perimenopausal health assessments, with approximately over 2½ thousand women already accessing that scheme. We've delivered the first PBS listing of a new menopausal hormone therapy in over 20 years, and now thousands of women are able to access that. From 1 July this year, greater support has also been provided for women who have complex conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic pain, with two new MBS items also introduced. This means Australian women are getting the medicine that they need.”
“Earlier this year, Labor announced an historic $790 million women's health package to bring more choice, lower costs and better health care to women. We introduced cheaper contraceptives, including for some of the most used contraceptive pills that are now listed on the PBS. Thousands of scripts have been issued since we made that decision, making a real impact on women's cost of living. We've also expanded support for women experiencing menopause, with greater Medicare support and a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments. Those are now available, alongside new training for professionals and the first-ever clinical guidelines and a national awareness campaign on menopause.”
“I thank the member for Cunningham very much for her question and for her interest in advocacy for women's health. I also acknowledge both the previous and current assistant ministers who have done such a magnificent job in promoting women's health policy. This government is building Australia's future through strengthening Medicare, and delivering cheaper medicines is part of that. These investments will deliver more choice, lower cost and better health care for women and will also help with the cost of living and lifting women's living standards. This week, of course, is Women's Health Week, and it is a chance for the whole parliament to focus on the issues that affect over half of our population.”
“It, of course, comes on top of our $1.5 billion of investment in infrastructure to really get housing moving, particularly in the regions. The opposition had a decade to act on regional housing. All they did, frankly, was leave it in crisis, and we are once again having to clean up their mess.”
“We saw a decade of their ignoring of regional Australia's housing issues, with no plan for housing, no plan, frankly, for investing in significant infrastructure and no real support for regional communities. We are doing the hard work, building the homes, building the infrastructure and backing regional growth with real funding. We're all getting regional Australians into more homes and sooner. Since introducing the regional first home buyer guarantee in 2022, we've issued over 23,500 guarantees in the regions and supported 38,500 regional Australians into homeownership. In my own hometown of Ballarat, thanks to Labor's scheme, a thousand families, a thousand people, have benefited from getting into a first home because of the policies of this government.”
“I know that one of the things that my community and every regional Australian is looking forward to hearing about is the Albanese government's delivery on housing for the regions, something that was neglected under those opposite. Our $43 billion plan for housing is making a real and substantial difference across regional Australia, in particular the decision to bring forward, from 1 October this year, the expanded regional home guarantee scheme. This will mean no income or location caps, with all regional Australians being able to benefit from that policy. Regional first home buyers will be able to get into the property market with a five per cent deposit, without having to pay lenders mortgage insurance. For far too long regional Australians had been left behind under those opposite.”
“Can I thank the member for Braddon for her question but also for her extraordinary advocacy for her community. If anyone has met the member for Braddon, you will know she is an extraordinarily fierce advocate for her community. She's very hard to say no to, and she is a terrific representative. Whether it is Devonport, Ballarat, Bendigo, Leichhardt or Lingiari, Labor represents the regions across every single corner of this country, and this evening I absolutely look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the regional city and my hometown of Ballarat for one of the many bush summits being held this week. The Prime Minister has attended all of the bush summits. He was in Wagga this week and he'll be in my hometown of Ballarat this evening.”
“Finally, I want to thank very much the people of Ballarat for putting their faith in me to represent them once more and to look forward to another term of delivery for them but also for the opportunity that they have given me to deliver not just for them but also for the entire nation.”
“In South Australia, we are delivering one of the biggest road projects—I think North East Link might be the biggest one, but the Torrens to Darlington project is huge. We're also delivering the Mount Barker to Verdun interchange upgrades and funding investments in heavy vehicle productivity. In the Territory, we're improving the Tanami, and in the ACT we're expanding the Canberra light rail. Again, these investments come at a time when it is really important to keep that pipeline of work going but also when we know there are significant capacity constraints that continue with our workforce and with supply chain, and we're continuing to do the work in that space as well.”
“In Victoria, we're funding and working very closely with the Victorian government on the Melbourne Airport rail link and unlocking the Sunshine Station precinct, which is really important for not just enabling airport rail but also untangling the network to enable future electrification of the Melton line. We're also delivering significant investments that are continuing with North East Link, Suburban Rail Loop and the Western Freeway. There is, of course, more to be done. In Tasmania, we've delivered and opened the Bridgewater Bridge. We're investing in the Mornington Roundabout—that's finally getting done—and the Lyell Highway. In WA, we're delivering METRONET, a new ferry expansion and the Brooking Channel Bridge, and I'm looking forward to going and opening alongside Minister Saffioti the Byford line extension shortly.”
“In fact, there have been increases to funding for infrastructure everywhere across the nation. In Queensland, we're delivering our record $7.2 billion investment in the Bruce Highway. The Rockhampton Ring Road is proceeding well. For the Olympics infrastructure in Queensland, which will leave a lasting legacy, we've signed the new intergovernmental agreement with the deputy premier there just recently. In New South Wales, the Western Sydney airport is pretty much complete. It's looking fantastic, and the aviation agreements are getting in place. I'm looking forward to that opening. In addition to that, we're delivering that critical road and rail infrastructure, the roads being Fifteenth Avenue, Mamre Road and Elizabeth Drive. The rail line is well underway, and I visited the station box just recently out at the airport.”
“I've been very focused in our first term to ensure that this pipeline of projects is focused on enhancing the productivity of our industries, improving safety of our local road users, connecting us with our loved ones and saving us time when we're travelling to and from work, and that those projects are across the nation. We have increased funding, in fact, for infrastructure. Whilst we had to do a review of the pipeline to ensure its deliverability, I can assure the House that, despite some of the rhetoric from those opposite that still seems to continue, not a single dollar has been cut from the infrastructure pipeline. In fact, it has actually increased under the Albanese Labor government. It's important to understand that, whilst projects may have not been proceeded with, no money has been cut.”
“I recently went to one of the co-design workshops, where the aviation sector and my department are working closely with those with a disability to actually design the new aviation disability standards so that we can actually get a better outcome with the treatment of people who have a disability and who want to travel by air to go and do all of the things that we love and enjoy. We're also driving productivity through the freight and supply chain, and we'll continue to do that work. We continue to deliver a record investment in infrastructure across the nation. That investment stretches right the way across the country, throughout our regions, our cities, our towns and our suburbs.”
“It is an enormous responsibility and one that I'm very passionate about, and I thank the Prime Minister for trusting me to continue to fulfil that role. Through my portfolio, we'll continue to deliver for all Australians, with a significant agenda before us. We're delivering historic reforms, including legislating an aviation consumer protection scheme for the first time and ensuring that Australians living with disability can access essential transport services with the dignity that they deserve.”
“They are passionate and committed, and I believe in them and what they can achieve. I'm very proud to support this meaningful project, which will be delivered by the City of Ballarat and supported by the expertise of local government. Many thanks to Evan King—no relation to me, but the CEO of the City of Ballarat—and his council officers, who do such terrific work, often behind the scenes, to really work with communities in a way that delivers great outcomes for groups like the veterans community. I'm really excited to get to work and see the benefits that these projects will bring. As I said at the start, alongside being the member for Ballarat, I'm very proud to have been reappointed by the Prime Minister as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for a second term.”
“Finally, we've invested $3 million to establish a fit-for-purpose veterans, families and community hub in Wendouree. I'm really delighted that the City of Ballarat has made a premise available. It's one of the old council chambers from amalgamation that's really been sitting vacant for a long period of time. It is an ideal place for a veterans hub in our community, which has, sadly, been needed for a long time. It will be a place of connection and practical support for the service men and women to whom we owe so much and for their families and supporters. Thousands of veterans live in the Central Highlands region, and the benefits of this project will extend far beyond the boundaries of Ballarat. I've been speaking with the team behind the Ballarat Veterans Assistance Centre for many years now about this project.”
“But that, unfortunately, is not always the case! Capping the number of girls who can play—which is what's actually been happening, because the facilities simply can't handle it—really isn't good enough. I know that there is lots of demand across communities, but our commitment has been to get these fantastic local clubs the facilities that they deserve, which will keep local kids active and connected. About an hour south of Daylesford is the beautiful community of Teesdale, where we're also ensuring that everyone has the facilities that they need with the Don Wallace Rec Reserve, with a $1.5 million commitment to help deliver much-needed female-friendly change rooms, a new septic system, a new accessible toilet with baby-change facilities, power upgrades, and paths and landscaping to secure the site.”
“It will be able to host the Ballarat Wine Show, agricultural workshops and private events, and, in essence, it'll ensure the sustainability of the showgrounds for years to come, having a stream of revenue to support the producers in our community. We also committed just over $1.2 million for community soccer upgrades in Creswick and Daylesford. Maybe it started with the Matildas, or maybe it's because these two clubs are so welcoming and so inclusive, but both are seeing a huge influx of women and girls wanting to play soccer. Girls getting changed for soccer in cars or behind trees isn't okay, particularly if you're in Daylesford or Creswick now and you know how cold that can be—although if you're watching The Block , which is filming in Daylesford as we speak, it looks like it's sunshine every day.”
“Our Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society—our Ballarat Show—has played an iconic role in Ballarat for over 170 years. The annual show is something many families look forward to, and it's always a brilliant day out. Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society doesn't just deliver the show, though. The organisation is run by a terrific group of volunteers, who play an integral role in supporting primary producers and showcasing agriculture through the region. They've big plans for the future of their new site and what the organisation can achieve, and we're pleased to back them with $1.5 million towards their new event and exhibition centre.”
“If the royal commission and recent events in my home town in Victoria, as well as in Queensland, have taught us anything, it's that we have to be eternally vigilant when it comes to child sexual abuse. Ours is a proud and welcoming community and one where people support each other. The Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council operates out of an old high school building called the Ballarat Welcome Centre. It's a beautiful site. The building itself is pretty old, as a lot of buildings in Ballarat are. We're lucky that way, but it does mean that it is often hard to find facilities. We've pledged $500,000 to revitalise facilities for the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council to continue to do the amazing work that they do—welcoming migrants as well as showcasing our different cultures.”
“For some time now, local survivors and supporters have been working together on the design of a memorial for our community—a place of healing, recognition and quiet reflection and a place in the heart of our city that acknowledges and honours all survivors of sexual abuse and assault. I was incredibly proud to commit $500,000 for the Continuous Voices Memorial in Victoria Park. This commitment from the Albanese government, together with previously announced support from the Victorian Labor government and the City of Ballarat, ensures that this worthy project will actually be built. This commitment assures survivors that we see you, we believe you and we support you.”
“Just this week in parliament, we've protected the penalty and overtime rates of millions of Australian workers. Each of these policies has delivered and will continue to deliver real and lasting change for those in my electorate, but we know there is still more to do to build a better future for all Australians. Throughout the election campaign, I worked with a number of local groups and organisations to commit to projects that will make a real and tangible difference for our community. These projects build on the commitments that we made in 2022 that are now well and truly coming to fruition. I've spoken before in this place about Ballarat's history of institutional abuse and the way that it continues to echo through generations.”
“We've provided $300 in energy bill relief for every household. We've delivered cheaper child care as well as pay rises for childcare and aged-care workers, and we've expanded paid parental leave. We've doubled the Roads to Recovery funding to $1 billion, meaning every single council in this country, including in and around my community, is now receiving double the amount of money from the federal government to fix our local roads. That is making a real difference across the community. We've increased the amount of money for black spots and for projects such as bridge renewals and heavy vehicle productivity. We're investing over $4 billion in women's safety initiatives, boosting and securing frontline services, delivering financial and housing support for women escaping violence, and delivering much-needed law reform.”
“We've opened 87 bulk-billing Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in Sturt Street in Ballarat, and I thank them for their excellent, excellent service. Many in our community, including my family, have needed to call on their services. We're investing an extra $1.7 billion to actually fund our public hospitals properly. We've started the largest housing build in Australia's history to get more people into a home of their own, including in my own electorate. We're wiping $3 billion of student HECS debt, saving the average person in my home town over $5,755. We've delivered free TAFE and I, like many people, have met young people and older people changing careers who have taken advantage of free TAFE. It is changing the economic opportunities for a generation, and it is unbelievably terrific to see.”
“I met doctors and nurses working tirelessly in our hospital system, telling me how much they need more funding for health services. I spoke with older Australians concerned about the cost of living and the quality of aged-care services. These are the people who make up our Australia, and they are exactly who I am working to deliver for, as part of the Albanese Labor government. Our policies ease the pressure on families, support education for the next generation, strengthen our health system, back regional communities and ensure dignity and security for older Australians, because we believe in building a fairer, stronger future for everyone. We've done this by delivering on our promised tax cuts for every taxpayer, helping you keep more of what you earn.”
“I particularly want to acknowledge my electorate office staff and my personal staff, who worked incredibly hard, as well as people such as Craig Fletcher and the local union movement, who also assisted so diligently. Throughout the 2025 campaign, I had the privilege of standing on prepoll for two weeks, pretty much continuously in the same spot—I didn't move—speaking with many different people from our community. I met young mums and dads worried about the rising cost of child care and how they can balance work and family life. I spoke with students anxious about their growing HECS debt and how it might impact their future opportunities. I met young people eager to build a career by learning a trade but worried about the cost and availability of apprenticeships.”
“While I have other responsibilities across the whole of the nation, it never escapes me that the only reason I have the opportunity to be a minister—a cabinet minister in this government—is because of the people of Ballarat. While I have other titles, the one I am most deeply proud of is being the member for Ballarat. I'd like to say a special thank you to every person who helped and supported me during the campaign—my family, my fabulous staff, my friends and my volunteers. I'm extremely grateful to all of you for your contribution; I could not have done this without you. I'm not going to name everybody. I have done so in the past, but today I have only a limited amount of time.”
“The past few years in particular have taught me even more about the resilience of our First Nations people, and how we, as non-Indigenous people, have so much to learn from them. I thank the local traditional owners for their ongoing generosity in sharing their culture and the grace and wisdom with which they conduct themselves and support community each and every single day. My electorate, like all of the 150 in this place, is a very special place—one of history, diversity and opportunity. I never take for granted the incredible honour it is to represent my community here in our nation's capital. I'll continue to work every day to get the best outcomes for the people of Ballarat and for every Australian.”
“I know that you do not hold a seat when you are sitting in that chair, but I particularly want to acknowledge the events happening in your electorate as we speak. It's somewhere I've visited regularly. My nephew has just bought a house in Porepunkah and had his wedding there last year. I know what a beautiful community it is. I'm devastated for the community and for the members of the police force who've lost their lives. I know that you will play a very important leadership role in helping the community post all of these events. I want to acknowledge that. It is an enormous privilege to stand here before you today as the re-elected member for Ballarat. I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands of my electorate, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples, and pay my respects to elders past and present.”
“They voted against accelerating the closing of the gender pay gap by lifting the bar for bigger employers, a recommendation they previously supported; they voted against better pay and secure jobs; they called wage increases in care industries 'a sugar hit'; and they voted against stronger protections. It's only this side of the parliament that actually supports gender equality for women. (Time expired)”
“We've also committed $3.6 billion in funding to support a 15 per cent wage increase for the early childhood workforce, which is more than 90 per cent female. We know what makes a difference, and that's why we are getting on with delivering. Let me be clear: gender equality in Australia will not be achieved by accident. It takes leadership and purposeful policy decisions that our cabinet is making. It takes that dedication and it takes action. It's what this government is doing, and, frankly, those opposite still continue to stand in the way.”
“That means that Australian women working full time are now earning, on average, $255 more a week since those opposite left office. We've also reached a new record high for women's workforce participation. That's not just a statistic. This is women across Australia earning more, building for their financial security and being recognised for the important jobs that they do in our economy. This is because we have put in place tangible policies, and they are working. From 1 July 2025, the national minimum wage and award wages increased by an additional 3.5 per cent, following on from a 3.75 per cent increase on 1 July 2024. Those reliant on these changes were largely in female dominated professions. And $17.7 billion has now been provided to support wage award increases for aged-care workers and nurses, who are largely women.”
“Can I thank the member for Lalor for the question, for her continued advocacy for women in her community and across the country and, in particular, for her mentoring of and friendship to so many women across here—particularly her support of the fabulous new women that have come into this parliament. The Albanese government know just how important women are to the future of this country, and with over half of our caucus being women we're committed to delivering for women and representing women. We are very proud to be taking real action in closing the gender pay gap, something those opposite talked about for nearly a decade but absolutely failed to deliver on. I am very proud to inform the House that, under the Albanese Labor government, the gender pay gap has now fallen to its lowest level on record—11.5 per cent.”
“by leave—I move: That: (1) Ms Boele be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library; and (2) Dr Scamps be appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability. Question agreed to.”
“While visitors will flock to Ballarat over the next eight weeks, the festival is embraced by locals, too. In fact, more than 200 volunteers will ensure the smooth running of the Biennale. The last three festivals have brought $93 million of economic benefit to our region, and it is an astonishing achievement for the Biennale team, led by Artistic Director and CEO Vanessa Gerrans, with General Manager Kate O'Hehir and Chair of the Board Alicia Linley. Trying to use words to describe the Ballarat Foto Biennale doesn't quite work. You really have to see it for yourselves. So I'd encourage anyone who can to visit Ballarat between now and 19 October. I can assure you that you won't be disappointed by the magnificent works that are on display.”
“This year features the world premiere of Catherine Leroy's One-W ay T icket to Vietnam . The French photographer was 21 and had a camera and $100 in her pocket when she arrived to document the Vietnam War in 1966. It was the beginning of a career of fearless war photography. The 11th Ballarat International Foto Biennale includes more than 2,000 photographic works. Overall, there are 111 exhibitions, one of which was made possible with support from the Albanese government's Festival Australia Fund. Mumu Mirri was designed by the Wathawurrung artist Dr Deanne Gilson and constructed by Natimuk artist Dave Jones. It is simply unmissable. It's an enormous bogong moth installed on the façade of the National Centre for Photography on Lydiard Street. It gently flutters by day and it glows at night.”
“A great event happens every two years in the depths of winter in Ballarat. In contrast to the grey skies above, we start seeing a lot of yellow around the city—yellow signage, people dressed in yellow, the umbrellas in the iconic umbrella laneway in the CBD suddenly become yellow, and in the streets people are carrying bright yellow bags. It means that the Ballarat International Foto Biennale has begun. This year's exhibitions explore life force. The photography that fills the city, the buildings, the laneways, our restaurants and a range of other beautiful venues explores what it is and what it means to be alive—this thrumming energy of living things. More than 360 artists are featured in this year's Biennale, from the arresting work of British-Ghanaian photographer and filmmaker Campbell Addy to the celebrated Robert Mapplethorpe.”
“We have also doubled the amount of money that is going to every single council across this country—doubled that money for local roads in our regions as well. Every single council now under a Labor government gets double the amount of Roads to Recovery money, something those opposite never even touched. We've had to do that because of the decades of neglect of those opposite, who never invested in regional Australia, only pork barrelled. That's what they're upset about, because those days are over.”
“In Victoria: Sunshine Station, Melbourne Airport Rail link, North East Link, Western Freeway upgrades—and, of course, the Princes Freeway as well continues to receive investment. Down in Tassie, we've delivered and opened the Bridgewater Bridge, and we're investing in the Mornington Roundabout and the Lyell Highway. In South Australia, we're delivering the Torrens to Darlington project, Whyalla Airport opened just recently and the Mount Barker to Verdun interchange upgrades—and in Western Australia, the METRONET, Brooking Channel Bridge, Bunbury Outer Ring Road and more. In the Northern Territory, we're improving the Tanami Outback Way, investing in Middle Arm and also the Stuart Highway between Katherine and Darwin, and here, in the ACT—the light rail, the Molonglo River Bridge and Belconnen.”
“In Queensland, we are, of course, delivering unprecedented investment into the Bruce Highway, including our historic $7.2 billion safety package—all of which is in regional Queensland. We're delivering the Rockhampton Ring Road that was dramatically underfunded by the former coalition government and stage 1 of Sunshine Coast rail, to get it to Caloundra. We are also delivering in Queensland the Olympics infrastructure that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. In New South Wales, Western Sydney airport is nearly complete. We're delivering critical road infrastructure in Western Sydney: Fifteenth Avenue, Mamre Road and Elizabeth Drive. These were long neglected by those opposite. We're delivering the new Richmond Bridge, the Muswellbrook Bypass and, of course, Coulsons Creek Road in New England.”
“I thank the member for Dickson very much for that question and particularly for her support of infrastructure investment and her longstanding advocacy for upgrades to the Dohles Rocks Road in Queensland, a project that is now under way, thanks to this government. This government is making a record investment in infrastructure across our cities and our regions—a pipeline of projects across the next 10 years, with a record $125 billion of investment. That record investment stretches right across the country, throughout our regions and throughout our cities, our towns and our suburbs—projects that enhance the productivity of our industries, improve safety for our road users, connect us with our loved ones and save us time when we're travelling to and from work.”
“People used to think that women were not drawn to this place. We have so many talented women in this place with a range of backgrounds, from engineers to doctors, to CEOs, to paralympians and even to pilots, including among those sitting opposite to me. This is exactly the attitude, Member for Longman, that keeps wages for women low and stops them from putting their hands up to learn a trade or work in STEM or represent their communities in this place. Those opposite simply do not get it. Those opposite are living decades in the past. First, it's net zero, and, now, it is your attitudes towards women. Well, I'm here to tell them that it is 2025. Climate change is real, and gender equality is a very good thing for this country.”
“These changes are possible when you have women around the table empowered to make decisions, and that hasn't always been the case. Let's not forget that it was a little over 10 years ago now that former prime minister Abbott appointed only one woman to cabinet and crowned himself minister for women. Thankfully, under this prime minister that attitude within government is a thing of the past. I wish I could say the same of those opposite. Just today, we had the member for Longman claiming that quotas are a ridiculous practice and that men tend to be more drawn to vocations that involve maths and physical exertion. And I go on to quote the member for Longman, 'Women, in the main, tend to be drawn to careers that involve women and care, like hairdressing, nursing, social work and the like.' What an absolute crock! What a crock!”
“I thank very much the member for Swan for the question. It is fantastic to see so many women of diverse backgrounds here in this chamber, in particular the member for Swan—science, engineering and over a decade in the mining industry. Since Labor came to government, the gender pay gap is at a record low, with women on average earning $217.40 more per week than they did in May 2022. We've also seen more women participating in the workforce than ever before. Supporting women doesn't just have a social benefit; we know that it has an economic benefit as well. It's why we've made gender equality an object of the Fair Work Act, why we've expanded paid parental leave to six months by 2026 and why we've introduced 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave.”
“Having women in the room matters, and making sure women are represented across the country also does not happen by accident; you have to purposely do it.”
“All of this is contributing significantly to the record low gender pay gap. We know that none of this happens by accident. Having women in the room matters with all our policy initiatives. Our new National Access to Justice Partnership is helping to reduce pay disparity and support frontline services for people experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence. We have a proven track record on delivering better outcomes for women and our new measures build on those investments from the last parliament. They include over $4 billion for combating gender based violence. We've secured 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave, and we've directed $1 billion to crisis and transitional accommodation. Again, none of this happens by accident.”