Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Equality for women is at the heart of Labor's enduring values. It is not only in our platform but is also central to policy development and implementation. Consecutive Labor governments have delivered some of the biggest social, economic and political reforms for Australian women. It was Labor governments that reopened the equal pay case, opened up the minimum wage to Australian women, and, indeed, made no-fault divorce proceedings accessible, so that women could escape violence.

Mr Tim Wilson interjecting—

Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Goldstein is warned!

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The successes of Labor governments are also very clear to see in this chamber today. It is Labor governments that take seriously political representation of Australian women. There are more Labor women sitting on Labor's front bench than the entire representation of women in the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives.

Opposition members interjecting—

It is a shame. I stand here proud of Labor's legacy and energised by our successes, but I know that there is still a lot of work to be done. Women are still more likely to be living in poverty in Australia. We retire, on average, with less than half the superannuation of men. Older women are quickly becoming part of the growing group of people in poverty. That is what a lifetime of gender pay gaps and unpaid caring roles results in. And these attacks on penalty rates, which will push women even further into poverty, make matters worse. Under the Liberals, we have slipped from ninth to 46th placing in the global gender equality rankings. That is what happens when you do not treat women as equal partners in this country. (Time expired)