Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Can I have the clock restarted? Thank you.

I refer the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the strategic direction statement in the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio budget statement. It states:

Gender equality and women and girls' empowerment will be addressed across the aid program.

As the minister is aware, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing declaration and platform for action, an agreement adopted by the nations of the world to advance gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern. This important document was the focus of this year's session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It reflected on the progress that has been achieved and the challenges that still lay ahead. The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, and the Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott-Despoja, attended the commission to advocate for renewed international commitment and momentum towards gender equality. Twenty years on, gender inequality persists in our region, undermining economic growth, human development and poverty reduction. The anniversary has placed women's empowerment front and centre on the global agenda with policymakers, political leaders, technical experts and gender advocates driving renewed political will and commitment.

The evidence is clear: gender equality is critical to development and must be a key part of Australia's aid program. I am pleased that the government's new aid paradigm released last year—Australian aid: promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stabilityplaces gender at the heart of our aid program. The document highlights the alarming rate of domestic violence. One in three women in South-East Asia and two in three women in some Pacific countries experience physical and/or sexual abuse by their partner. It is estimated that the Asia-Pacific region is losing up to $47 billion annually because of women's limited access to employment opportunities, and up to $US30 billion annually due to gender gaps in education. This statistic is alarming to me as a woman and particularly so as the member for Solomon. My electorate is one of Australia's most multicultural communities, with vibrant Asian and Pacific communities. In the time it takes me to travel from my electorate south to Canberra, an equivalent trip north would reach eight international capital cities, 36 trade ports, 69 international airports and nearly half a billion people. To put it simply, what is good for Asia is good for Solomon. Economic growth in Asia means jobs in north Australia. Economic empowerment in South-East Asia and the Pacific means markets for our goods, skills and produce. Given this statistic, how is Australia's aid agenda prioritising women's empowerment? How will the Abbott government assess the performance of our aid program in addressing gender inequality? In the foreign minister's speech on the government's new aid paradigm, she states:

Globally the private sector generates 90 per cent of jobs and funds over 60 per cent of investment. A strong private sector delivers higher growth, more jobs and will help reduce poverty.

According to the strategic direction statement in the portfolio budget statement:

DFAT will strengthen the aid program’s engagement with the private sector and its promotion of the empowerment of women and girls.

Minister, how is the Abbott government embracing the private sector to advance gender equality?

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