Скачать или смотреть Economic equality for Australian women

https://linktr.ee/sharonclaydon

Sharon Claydon MP speech from Federation Chamber 25/08/25

The World Economic Forum 's Global gender gap report 2025 has seen Australia jump 11 places in the global rankings in the last 12 months, to 13th position out of 148 countries, for gender equality. This is Australia's highest ranking since the index began back in 2008. For Labor, gender equality is not an optional extra. It's fundamental to fairness, to prosperity and to building a stronger nation. From day one, this government has placed women's social and economic equality at the centre of everything it does.

Over the past decade of coalition government, women were left behind. Under the coalition, Australia's gender equality ranking collapsed to 50th place on that list of 148 countries. That was, I shouldn't have to say, the lowest Australia has ever been. Thanks to Labor, we are now up to 13th. As I said, that's the highest we have ever been. But don't, for one moment, think we're resting on our laurels. Why shouldn't we be No. 1? That's the ambition of all of us on this side of the House.

The Labor government spent its first term delivering major reform to improve the lives of Australian women. This includes expanding paid parental leave to 24 weeks and, for the first time, adding superannuation to that paid parental leave, strengthening retiring incomes and recognising the value of care work. Families accessing paid parental leave are now nearly $12,000 better off compared to how they were prior to our coming to office. It includes three consecutive increases to the minimum wage, lifting the pay rates of nearly three million Australians—and guess what? The majority of those on minimum wage are women in sectors like care, retail and early education. Backing in those wage increases is critical to lifting the economic security of women. It includes commencing the Commonwealth paid prac payment scheme for student teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers, who are overwhelmingly women. Easing that financial pressure during mandatory placements is critical. We're investing in the professions that all of our communities rely on. These reforms are already making a difference in communities like mine in Newcastle, where thousands of students and young families stand to benefit, but that's just part of Labor's agenda.

Full speech available here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_...