Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a great pleasure to stand here today in support of the very timely and wonderfully worded motion of the member for Boothby. It is timely because I spent Saturday at Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera, when they had their open day. It was a tremendous opportunity to get to know the service personnel there. A lot of the Ryan community feel a great pride and connection with the Gallipoli Barracks, where some 7,000 service personnel currently serve. It was a great opportunity because very rarely do you get into the barracks itself, so it was a wonderful opportunity to go and talk to the serving personnel, in particular to talk to a number of female service personnel, who are doing a tremendous job.

The women I met on Saturday, and previously, of course, play an active role in every aspect of operations. they are deployed to active combat zones, support peacekeeping missions, help communities devastated by natural disaster and engage in search and rescue operations. They take part in boarding parties to search suspect ships. They drive Australia's armoured troop-carrying vehicles in operational areas. They are Australian pilots flying on tasks ranging from reconnaissance to rescue missions, disaster relief and combat support. There is no limit to what our servicewomen can achieve, and it is by their own potential, effort and achievement that they are advancing. With hard work, grit and determination, they are a wonderful example of the very best of our defence forces.

The coalition government has maintained a strong focus on supporting and building the number of women serving in the ADF and supporting their families. On current figures, 10,834 women are serving defence. It is a number that continues to grow, year on year. I'd particularly like to acknowledge the diversity of leadership at the ADF's most senior levels, as some other members have talked about today. As at June 2019, Defence boards had 44.9 per cent female representation. That contrasts very well with company boards. The Australian Institute of Company Directors reports female representation on ASX 200 boards at only 29.7 per cent. This achievement by Defence has, importantly, been made without quotas. It is the reward for talent and the individual efforts of our servicewomen, who are achieving great things. In fact, as the member for Stirling said, and a number of serving personnel reminded me on Saturday, Defence as an organisation is often at the forefront of social change in Australia. Even though it relies heavily on tradition and rigidity, it has been at the forefront of social progress. Indigenous Australians were servicemen long before they could vote, in 1962, and the ADF recognised and supported same-sex de facto couples long before the Marriage Act was amended in 2017. So too is it leading the way in making sure that servicewomen are supported to achieve great things.

But there is always more to be done to build and support our servicewomen. I want to draw the chamber's attention to a couple of initiatives. Women have the option of joining the Australian Defence Force with a shorter time commitment for certain roles. This enables them to assess whether a Navy, Army or Air Force career is right for them and those important to them, including their families. There is the very successful gap year program, which, personnel have said, has been a pathway for a number of new service personnel. It's a great option for 17- to 24-year-old women interested in experiencing the Navy, Army or Air Force. It enables them to gain leadership capabilities which will set them up for their future careers. In addition, parents are given support to manage their family commitments without detriment to their careers, including flexible working arrangements, maternity and paternity leave and the putting on hold of their career options while they have children. Defence also provides substantial housing subsidies to assist with child care, schooling requirements and additional health support for dependents in regional posting locations, as well as partner employment assistance and programs for settling into a new community. The member for Boothby spoke about the wellness centres which will be rolled out. They are part of an exciting initiative to support veterans and those transitioning into the workforce.

I again congratulate all our servicewomen who are currently serving, particularly those at the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera. We are incredibly proud of what you are doing, as I hope you are incredibly proud of the work that you are doing on behalf of Australians. Thank you also to our veterans community, to those servicewomen who have served our nation and have now transitioned out of the defence forces. We look forward as a government to continuing to support you and your families.

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