Carina Garland
Chisholm · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Having seen them again last week, I can say the students of St Roch's are absolutely leaders. They debated whether video games should be an official sport, if plastic packaging on all food items should be banned, whether museums should return ancient artefacts to countries of origin and whether smartwatches should be banned in the classro…”
“We're also clarifying the CFMEU administrator's biannual financial reporting requirements, which currently require a report effectively immediately at the conclusion of a given financial year. In this bill, we're also committed to ensuring truckies get a fair go.”
“This government is giving them the tools to do just that, and I'm really proud to be able to represent so many bright young people in this place. Just last week, I had the great pleasure of visiting St Roch's Catholic Primary School in Glen Iris as a guest adjudicator for their year 6 civics and citizenship debating competition.”
“The intention here is to ensure that more truck drivers can access our quick and easy process to challenge an unfair contract in the Fair Work Commission.”
“It's important to highlight that our reforms are essential in ensuring that our workplace relations framework continues to be fit for purpose, continues to deliver fairer wages and secure jobs not just in my electorate of Chisholm but right across Australia.”
“We know that secure jobs drive participation in communities. I spoke about this in my very first speech—that, when people have certainty over hours and wages, they can make commitments to their local communities. They can put down roots. They can know that on their weekends they'll have time to give to their local sporting clubs.”
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“That principle stands at the centre of this government's policies and, indeed, it guides everything that I do in this place every single day. It's why we're acting on our intergenerational responsibilities through the budget and making sure that those young students who I had the absolute pleasure of meeting recently will have a fair shot at owning their own home in the future and accessing an incredible education, whether that be through the vocational education system or through our universities. I want to do everything I can to make sure that the system for education and for everything else that we do in this place is fair and is sustainable for those generations that will come after us.”
“I wish all of the students who organised the petition the very best of luck in their last year of primary school and encourage them to continue to follow their passions and to involve themselves in their community as leaders. I encourage all students right across my electorate to get involved in the life of their school and their community, whether it be through debating, whether it be by putting their hand up to be a student representative or helping out at local sports clubs and art groups and many other community organisations. I encourage all students to be brave and be themselves. Our role in this place has always been to look ahead and consider the effect that the decisions we make today will have on students like those from St Roch's and Mount Waverley Heights in years to come.”
“They are organising a dog parade. St Roch was the patron saint of dogs, and I will not be missing an opportunity to see that. Every school in my electorate, though, embodies the spirit of democracy and care for community. Recently, four very passionate year 6 students from Mount Waverley Heights Primary School presented my office with a petition that called on us to make healthy food options cheaper. Together, they collected 80 signatures from the school community. One of my most favourite things to do as the federal member of Chisholm is to hear from young people about their passions and hopes for Australia's future. I think our country is safer, smarter and kinder when young people speak up. It certainly makes it easier to do my job.”
“Having seen them again last week, I can say the students of St Roch's are absolutely leaders. They debated whether video games should be an official sport, if plastic packaging on all food items should be banned, whether museums should return ancient artefacts to countries of origin and whether smartwatches should be banned in the classroom. I might have been the adjudicator, but I was also a student. I had the opportunity to learn about what our future holds under their leadership, and it shows nothing but promise. I want to thank and congratulate Conner, Marianna, Jacob, George, Charlie, Dom, Matilda, Mia, Harper, Margot, Matthew, Grace, Harriet, Walter, Luka, Marcus, Kathryn, Rose, Aira, Leo, Olivia, Richard and Scarlett. I'm sure at least one of them may one day take a seat here in this place. I look forward to seeing them again soon.”
“This government is giving them the tools to do just that, and I'm really proud to be able to represent so many bright young people in this place. Just last week, I had the great pleasure of visiting St Roch's Catholic Primary School in Glen Iris as a guest adjudicator for their year 6 civics and citizenship debating competition. St Roch's primary school embodies community spirit and civic education. Indeed, it was only last month that the Speaker and I visited their students for the Parliament in Schools program, where we unveiled one of the flags at once flew above this place. You could see in every student's face how proud they were to have been able to touch a piece of Australian history, and I'm sure that they will carry the memory of that experience for years. I thank the Speaker for sharing in that special moment.”
“The importance of education has been instilled in me from my earliest years, and my time in Australia's education system as a student and then as a researcher and lecturer has given me an even deeper appreciation for high-quality and well-resourced education. It means security for teachers—and I have a lot of teachers in my family and see how hard they work. It means safety and opportunity for students, and it means a more cohesive society that we all benefit from. I'm so lucky in this job to have the opportunity to see this firsthand in schools all over the electorate of Chisholm. I've seen students engage in civic education in a way that makes me absolutely sure that our future in their hands will be one of care, humility and fairness.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. What do today's inflation figures tell us about the cost-of-living pressures facing Australians? What action is the Albanese Labor government taking to help people get ahead, and what resistance has there been?”
“This should be something that we all aspire to achieve for every worker in our electorates. It is disappointing that some in this chamber don't understand this point or seem not to understand this point. I hope that we can continue to work as a parliament, and certainly we on this side of the House will continue to work as a government, to provide good, secure, well-paying jobs for workers. We know this is the foundation of building a good life in this country, and I'm very, very proud to be part of a government that understands how important this objective is.”
“We know that secure jobs drive participation in communities. I spoke about this in my very first speech—that, when people have certainty over hours and wages, they can make commitments to their local communities. They can put down roots. They can know that on their weekends they'll have time to give to their local sporting clubs. They can be involved in local parent groups. They can make those kinds of decisions because they have the security of a job that they can count on. This is an extension of the work we as a government already did in our first term and are building on here in our second term. It should, as I've said before in my speech today, be uncontroversial that a government would seek to ensure that Commonwealth funds are able to provide good, secure jobs for people in our communities.”
“The intention here is to ensure that more truck drivers can access our quick and easy process to challenge an unfair contract in the Fair Work Commission. This clearly builds on the important reforms we've already made to back truck drivers and our trucking industry, including the fairer fuel act, which creates an urgent pathway with a high threshold that allows truck drivers and transport operators to argue for a fairer share. This is in addition to our world-leading laws laying the foundations for gig workers to achieve, for the first time, minimum standards. It should come as absolutely no surprise to anybody in this place that the Albanese Labor government stands with workers, communities and employers to build cooperative workplaces that seek to provide good outcomes for workers, businesses and our communities.”
“We're also clarifying the CFMEU administrator's biannual financial reporting requirements, which currently require a report effectively immediately at the conclusion of a given financial year. In this bill, we're also committed to ensuring truckies get a fair go. The bill will allow a new road transport industry high-income threshold to be made, and that will apply to contractors in the road transport industry, which we know is an incredibly important industry to our nation. This recognises that truck drivers have high out-of-pocket costs and that conventional high-income thresholds are simply not fit for purpose for this sector. We will consult on what this new threshold should be. That should come as no surprise, because our government has worked really hard to consult with relevant parties when making important decisions like this.”
“As the minister has already made crystal clear, the government has no intention of replicating BPIC and under no circumstances will employers be required to be covered by an enterprise agreement covered by a union as a condition of receiving government funding. The bill will make minor but important changes to support the government's tripartite National Construction Industry Forum and the CFMEU administration in their ongoing and really important work of reforming the construction industry. Clarifying the travel allowance rate for NCIF members, replacing Minister Ayres with Minister O'Neill to reflect machinery-of-government changes and adding Minister Giles as a permanent member due to the strong skills component of the forum's Blueprint for the future is also really essential here.”
“Subsequently, the bill under consideration will allow the Commonwealth to preference enterprise agreements that have been negotiated in good faith and genuinely agreed, where appropriate to do so, building cooperative workplaces as the title of the bill suggests. This is the right thing to do. Of course, value for money, quality and timeliness will absolutely remain front and centre of all government spending decisions and considerations and, as already announced, a different approach will be taken in the construction industry. Consistent with the recommendations of the NCIF, the government has announced consultation on the development of strong standalone standards aimed at ensuring government spending drives lawful and productive behaviour in the construction industry.”
“It will also allow the recommencement of supported bargaining without the need for a new authorisation, where an authorisation has already been made less than two years ago. Again, this will save the Fair Work Commission and parties involved both time and money. Our government has committed to develop a secure Australian jobs code to ensure that Commonwealth government spending supports secure jobs and fair conditions in all of our communities right across Australia. We know that enterprise agreements that are genuinely agreed and negotiated in good faith can be a really important, transparent and effective way of delivering secure jobs and fair conditions for workers as well as delivering flexibility and productivity for employers.”
“I've referred to it already, the Milford decision, which is placing unnecessary additional burden on the Fair Work Commission as well as on employers, workers and their unions. It will allow the president of the commission to delegate their power to certify that a general protections matter is unlikely to be resolved by conciliation. It will allow the commission to dismiss unfair termination and unfair deactivation applications that are frivolous or vexatious or have no reasonable prospect of success. It will enable the commission to prevent vexatious litigants from making further applications, and it will expand the circumstances in which the commission can decide a matter on the papers where the parties consent without holding a hearing or conducting a conference.”
“Significantly, the measures included in this bill are designed to assist the commission to better manage its workload and to support a more efficient and effective workplace relations framework. Of course, we seek to do this without reducing protections for workers. Through this legislation we will save not only the Fair Work Commission's time but also that of relevant parties involved in matters before the commission. We'll also save them money. We'll do this by ensuring that the commission can deal with the substance of a general protections dismissal matter without first having to deal with jurisdictional issues. This element of the bill seeks to deal with the unintended consequences of a Federal Court decision.”
“We know the Fair Work Commission plays a critical role as our national workplace relations tribunal, and our government is committed to ensuring that it continues to provide efficient dispute resolution services to workers and employers across Australia. One of the realities that we have come to understand about the Fair Work Commission's workload is that it has been really steadily increasing in recent years. As the minister has previously outlined in this place, the emerging challenges such as the rise of artificial intelligence, the prevalence of paid agents and the flow-on implications of the recent Milford court decision have been impacting the commission's processing times and requirements.”
“It's important to highlight that our reforms are essential in ensuring that our workplace relations framework continues to be fit for purpose, continues to deliver fairer wages and secure jobs not just in my electorate of Chisholm but right across Australia. Part of delivering these reforms also means ensuring that the Fair Work Commission processes continue to be effective and efficient. I'm proud to say that this legislation includes an amendment to enable progress to be made on our election commitment to develop the secure Australian jobs code. I think this code has been misunderstood by a number of those speaking on the opposite side of the chamber in that it focuses on making sure that taxpayer funds go to support good, secure jobs in our communities. I don't think that's controversial at all.”
“The building cooperative workplaces bill progresses important improvements to the workplace relations framework. Our landmark secure jobs, better pay and closing loopholes reforms laid the foundations, and I am pleased to inform the House that our work on these important reforms will continue with the passage of this bill. On this side of the House, we are absolutely committed to ensuring our workplace relations framework supports cooperative and productive workplaces. Unfortunately, many of the speakers on the other side of the chamber have missed the important emphasis on cooperative workplaces in the title of this bill. Cooperative workplaces include the kind of workplaces that we know will work for businesses, workers and the broader economy for our communities.”
“I think we should all be very proud of our enterprise bargaining system in Australia, which has provided for good outcomes for workers and for employers, and we should do what we can to defend this important system. Having said that, I'm very pleased to rise to speak on this important legislation today, which is legislation that builds on the Albanese Labor government's previous and important workplace reforms. Of course, ensuring that we have a strong workplace relations system has long been the focus of the Australian Labor Party. The purpose of the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026 is to amend the Fair Work Act to make improvements to industrial relations arrangements.”
“We're also cracking down on scammers and unfair trading. The package of reforms that our government has made is having an impact on people's lives in a positive way. It is disappointing that those opposite come here and use the MPI to inflame discord in community rather than support the people across Australia to have a better life.”
“This is really important for the future of this country. We know, of course, that Australians are facing real cost-of-living pressures because of the crisis in the Middle East. This budget delivers more tax cuts despite that, delivering for workers, taking the sting out of petrol prices and helping people into a home. We're also funding public hospitals and cheaper medicines while backing higher wages. We're helping Australians. We're helping people right across communities in this country, including in my community of Chisholm. As I said, we've cut income taxes already a number of times in different ways, which means about $3,000 more into the pockets of an average worker by 2028. We're also giving the ACCC more powers to crack down on price gouging, which I know, again, really matters to people in my community of Chisholm.”
“Those opposite tried to increase income taxes and now they're defending a status quo which punishes workers and locks far too many people out of housing. Our reforms are about helping people—helping workers, helping first home buyers and helping businesses—so more Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn, so that they can get into the housing market and get ahead, so they can put down roots in our community and so they can do the things that I think we as members of parliament all enjoy seeing people in our community do, like participating in the local footy club, sending their kids to local schools and supporting those local schools. It is impossible for young people and young families to do that if we as a government don't support them here to put down roots in communities.”
“Our reforms will build a better, fairer, simpler tax system by reducing the tax burden for over 13 million workers, supporting 75,000 more homeowners into the housing market, delivering over $3.8 billion in new measures that will lower taxes for businesses and startups, and reducing compliance costs by $540 million a year. Our budget has been all about tax relief and tax reform to make our economy work in the interests of all Australians, businesses and future generations. This is also building on our reforms to date. Our focus on this area is not anything new. We've had three rounds of tax cuts. We've made super fairer and more sustainable. We're making sure multinationals pay their fair share of tax, which I know is really important to people in my community in Chisholm.”
“I really can't believe some of the ridiculous statements we've heard in this debate so far. But those opposite quite simply seem absolutely incapable of participating in a sensible conversation about anything at this moment in history, which is pretty disgraceful. Our reforms in this tax and economic space have three goals: to level the playing field and better align the tax treatment of income from work with income earned in other ways; to help more Australians recognise the dream of homeownership and get a toehold in the property market; and to improve productivity by encouraging innovation and investment. Our tax package is firmly pro aspiration, pro worker and pro investment.”
“I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to speak on our government's economic record and the work we're doing to build a strong future for all Australians and to foster aspiration and give young people a fair go. We're reforming the tax system for workers, for businesses and for future generations, delivering a new round of tax cuts, including more tax cuts for every taxpayer from next week. We're helping more Australians realise the dream of homeownership and supporting investment and innovation. We've got another round of permanent tax cuts with the $250 working Australians tax offset and a $1,000 instant tax deduction. That means every Australian worker, including every taxpayer in my electorate of Chisholm, will benefit from Labor's tax cuts. Frankly, I'm a bit sick and tired of hearing those opposite talk our country down.”
“I really want to thank all of those general practitioners and the staff in those practices for the important work that they do every day, keeping our community healthy. One of the other significant ways that we've invested in Medicare bulk-billing is through investing in our Medicare urgent care clinics. We've got a Mount Waverley urgent care clinic which opened on 24 September, and we've had over 21,700 presentations in that time, which has made an enormous difference to people in our community, and I hear positive feedback all the time from people in my electorate. Labor built Medicare. We will always do what we can to defend it and to strengthen it so everyone in our communities can get the health care they need when they need it. I'm proud to speak on this motion today.”
“As I mentioned, we tripled the bulk-billing incentive in 2023 and again further stepped up to invest in Medicare and strengthen it by expanding that incentive from November last year. Our incentives are helping more people see the GP for free and delivering the biggest boost to Medicare ever. The 31 Medicare bulk-billing practices in my electorate of Chisholm are now bulk-billing all their patients all the time. Almost 50 per cent of GPs in my electorate are now in bulk-billing practices. I'm really proud of the fact that that bulk-billing rate has increased since I was first elected in May 2022. I am really pleased that the bulk-billing rate in my electorate sits at 80 per cent. This is a significant achievement and it's something that I'm really pleased to have been able to deliver for my community in government.”
“That means that there are more than 3,800 bulk-billing practices across the country, including more than a thousand in Victoria and 31 bulk-billing practices in my electorate of Chisholm. We've seen that increase in practices leading to an increase in bulk-billing rates since our investment in Medicare, resulting in real and practical cost-of-living relief for Australians right across the country. This is the kind of real help Australians are looking for and our government is providing. Minister Butler said that Labor built Medicare and we are strengthening it for all Australians. This is a really important mission that we have in government, and we will continue to keep our focus on investing in health care.”
“So I'm really pleased that we have been investing significantly and consistently in Medicare. Whether it's through the Albanese Labor government's record investment to strengthen Medicare with more bulk-billing, or through cheaper medicines, we're continuing to deliver high-quality, low-cost health care for Australians. It should be no surprise to anyone that, when you triple the bulk-billing incentive, you create the conditions that enable medical practices to deliver increased bulk-billing services. That's precisely what we've seen happening on the ground. This includes more than 1,400 mixed-billing practices across Australia switching to bulk-billing. The delivery of bulk-billing services across Australia, throughout Victoria and in my electorate of Chisholm has increased by every measure.”
“I think, when I speak about Medicare bulk-billing services, about every Australian worker in my electorate who, since 1 November last year, has also benefited from Labor's further investment in Medicare bulk-billing. They include the more than 4,000 retail assistants, the 1,500 registered nurses and the many thousands of teachers, carers and aged-care workers who live in my electorate. On this side of the House, we know that Australians don't hope to get sick at all—none of us do. And, when you do get sick, you shouldn't think about how you're going to pay for being sick, and what the impact of going without income may be. I'm really proud to be part of a government that values Medicare, and we know that, when you value something, you invest in it.”
“I also really want to thank my colleague the member for Reid for bringing this very important matter to the House today. Indeed, like the member for Reid's, my electorate of Chisholm has thousands of people in my community that are dependent on accessing Medicare bulk-billing services. Instilled in me from a very young age—with a GP for a father and a nurse for a mother, who ran their own medical practice—was the importance of everyone in our community being able to access health care. When I speak about Medicare bulk-billing services, I'm speaking about pensioners, concession-card holders and families with children who benefited from our initial $8.5 billion investment in Medicare.”
“We are entrenching free TAFE, whilst those opposite offer the view that if you don't pay for something you don't value it, which is really quite shameful. This budget also recognises the incredible contributions skilled migrants make to our country. Unfortunately, they often face unnecessary barriers preventing them from working in professions and trades they are trained for, so we're improving those skills recognition pathways, modernising assessment systems and helping migrants move into jobs that match their capabilities sooner. There's lots more that I could say about this part of the budget, because our government is absolutely committed— (Time expired)”
“Importantly, this is already delivering results. Since July last year more than 25,900 apprentices have commenced under the housing construction stream; 24,100 apprentices have commenced training in new energy pathways. Trade apprenticeship completions have risen significantly, including increases among electricians, plumbers, carpenters and bricklayers. And, importantly, we are seeing more First Nations Australians and more women entering trades and construction pathways. This matters because we want opportunity and aspiration to be available to every Australian. We're backing apprentices and we're rebuilding skills, but, unfortunately, those opposite can't decide whether supporting apprentices is valued.”
“We're creating a new digital service, with personalised tools, training and career support, and we're introducing intensive services for people facing complex barriers to employment, providing more support and more opportunity to move into meaningful work. This budget is also about building the skilled workforce that Australia needs for the future. If we want to build more homes, make Australia a renewable energy superpower, strengthen manufacturing and secure this nation's future, we absolutely must invest in skills and apprenticeships right now. This is why we are continuing targeted support for apprentices and the businesses that train them. Under the Key Apprenticeship Program, apprentices and small and medium employers in priority sectors like housing and new energy can access incentives of up to $4,000.”
“We've delivered same-job same-pay reforms that have already benefited more than 8,000 Australian workers, and we're also continuing the work of closing the gender pay gap, which now stands at a record low of 11.5 per cent. There's clearly more to do, though. We understand that a stronger, more resilient economy depends on stronger wages, stronger rights and stronger opportunities for all working people. We also recognise that having a job is only part of the story. We also need employment services and a system that works for people who are looking for work. For too long, the one-size-fits-all model has failed Australians who need tailored support to find and keep work. Our government is delivering a once-in-a-generation reform to employment services, with more than $312 million of investment.”
“In fact, this government has presided over the lowest average unemployment era of any government in the past 50 years. At the same time, we are delivering real improvements to wages and workplace rights. Since we came to government, in May 2022, the national minimum wage has increased by more than $10,250 a year, with yesterday's Fair Work Commission decision delivering the fifth consecutive increase. This makes a tangible difference to workers across Australia, including families in my electorate of Chisholm. I will never forget, in 2022, standing beside the then opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, when he was asked whether he supported a wage increase for the lowest paid workers in Australia and he said 'absolutely'. We've enshrined penalty rates into law.”
“At the core of every decision of the Albanese Labor government is the principle of 'no-one held back, no-one left behind'. The 2026-27 budget builds on the already steadfast progress in creating a better working future for Australians, where indeed no-one is held back and no-one is left behind. The Australian Labor Party is the party that was built by and for workers. On this side of the House we believe that Australians should have secure work, earn a fair wage, enjoy protections from unjust actions and have agency over their working lives. We're taking action to make the lives of working people better, and the results are pretty astounding. Since coming to office, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created, with unemployment remaining low by historical standards.”
“I'm not at all surprised by the success of Glen Waverley Toastmasters Club, because the part of Melbourne I am so proud to represent in this place has produced two Speakers of the House, both trailblazing women: the honourable Anna Burke, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and my predecessor as the member for Chisholm; and the honourable Joan Child AO, the member for the overlapping and now abolished seat of Henty and the first female Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives. Both used their communication skills to advocate social justice and to make history in this parliament. Happy jubilee to Glen Waverley Toastmasters Club. I look forward to many years to come.”
“I particularly want to acknowledge and thank Eddie Soon, who served as toastmaster of the evening and expertly, I'm told, hosted the proceedings, as well as Rob Owers, the club charter president and Charles Adams, a club charter member, both of whom remain part of the club 50 years on from its founding. Remarkable! It is an absolutely terrific testament to the strength and community spirit of Glen Waverley Toastmasters. I also want to acknowledge Sothea Van, Vice President, Alok Nath, President, and Graeme Bond, Treasurer, for their ongoing leadership and commitment to the club's continued success. I want to sincerely thank the Glen Waverley branch for its incredible work in strengthening our community and supporting people to grow in confidence and in leadership. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone.”
“It is an international organisation that has spent decades fostering environments where people feel empowered to step outside their comfort zone and develop their public speaking skills, discovering what they're capable of. On Monday, one of my local Toastmasters clubs, the Glen Waverley Toastmasters, celebrated an incredible 50 years. Since 1976, generations of members have come through the Glen Waverley Toastmasters looking to challenge themselves, grow as communicators and connect with others. The club has helped shape confident leaders, foster lifelong friendships and create a strong sense of community that continues to this day.”
“I'd like everyone here in this chamber to take a moment and think back to the very first time you all rose to speak to deliver your first speech. I know many in this chamber are now polished speakers, but there was I'm sure nothing like that first moment—the first feeling of privilege that came with representing your community here in the parliament and also defining yourself as a member in this place. There was probably a bit of nervousness too, knowing that people were watching. Now imagine if there were a place where people could build their confidence in public speaking and help them find their voice. Well, through the Toastmasters, there is a place where people can do that.”
“Earlier this year, reflecting on International Women's Day, I spoke about the activism of Zelda D'Aprano and her belief that progress builds person by person, voice by voice, to build a strong movement. That spirit of collective progress is at the heart of the Women's Budget Statement. We understand that equality is not achieved in one budget, one parliament or one generation. It requires sustained effort, it requires persistence and it requires governments willing to make choices that will shape a fairer future. Our budget contributes to that effort. We are investing in women's safety through this budget, as well as women's economic security and women's health and care. I'm really proud to speak on this statement in the House today.”
“This parliament is now the most gender balanced in Australia's history, with women making up nearly half of all parliamentarians at the opening of the 48th Parliament. This progress really does matter because young women and girls should be able to look at this parliament, at all institutions, indeed, and at leadership across the country and see themselves reflected there. Representation alone is not enough, though. We must continue the work of dismantling the structural barriers that hold women back economically, socially and politically. Around the world, we're seeing women's rights challenged and rolled back. We're seeing growing misogyny online. We're seeing new threats emerge through technology, exploitation and disinformation. This tells us that progress cannot be taken for granted.”
“These reforms matter because health care should work for women at every age and every stage of life. It also reflects the principle that women deserve to be listened to. We know that representation matters in this place. That's the system our democracy is built on. So it follows that, when women are in rooms representing our communities where decisions are made, outcomes improve. We are more representative. Policies become more responsive. Institutions become stronger. Democracies become fairer. I spoke earlier this year about the importance of different voices being heard in positions of leadership and decision-making. I said then that positive change happens when women's voices are included in the rooms where decisions are made.”
“Importantly, this budget also supports the first standalone First Nations led national strategy to end family, domestic and sexual violence, recognising that lasting change must be community led and must be culturally informed. The Women's Budget Statement also reflects something that many women have said for years: women's health issues have often been ignored, dismissed and certainly underfunded. We know that, for too long, women's pain has been minimised, women's conditions have been overlooked, and women's health outcomes have suffered as a result. Our government is changing that. Our landmark women's health investments continue in this budget, from cheaper contraceptives to expanded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, menopause support, bulk-billing investments and improved access to Medicare services.”
“It states clearly that gender equality cannot be achieved while women continue to experience violence and abuse in their homes, workplaces, communities and online. This is a truth we must face honestly, no matter how confronting. Nobody should lose their life to violence, and every woman living in fear is a failure of the systems around her. This is a system failure. She has been failed. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions here. But, despite that, there must be determined action. Our government has now invested more than $4.4 billion under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. This includes support through the Leaving Violence program, additional frontline workers, investment in prevention and early intervention and measures to address systems abuse and economic abuse.”
“Unfortunately, we know that it is women, particularly older women, who are one of the fastest growing groups of people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in Australia. Our government is addressing this issue by investing in social and affordable housing, supporting renters through increased Commonwealth rent assistance and helping first home buyers into the market. For women and children escaping violence, this budget continues critical investment in crisis and transitional accommodation. No woman should have to choose between violence and homelessness. The Women's Budget Statement rightly and clearly places gender based violence at the centre of the national conversation.”
“These are reforms that make an enormous difference for women balancing work and caring responsibilities and, of course, have impact on their families and their communities. Too many women throughout history have faced impossible choices—and still do—between career progression and family responsibilities, between paid work and unpaid care and between financial security and flexibility. Our budget continues the work of breaking down those barriers and of making decisions less difficult for families. We recognise unpaid care as real work. This is work that sustains families, sustains communities and sustains the economy itself. Housing security is also fundamental to women's equality and safety.”
“There is, of course, still a lot of work to do for real sustained equality, but it is a focus of this government, and we are determined to do what is necessary to achieve that real and sustained equality. For too long the sectors dominated by women—care, education, community services—were treated as secondary to the economy, when in reality they are foundational to it. Our government understands that care work is nation-building work. Through our government, we're finally seeing that reflected in policy and in outcomes for workers. The Women's Budget Statement highlights the government's investments in early childhood education and care, including the continuation of cheaper childcare reforms, the Building Early Education Fund and the three-day guarantee that commenced earlier this year, saving households on average $1,490 each year.”