Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In May 2024, the gender pay gap in Australia dropped to 11.5 per cent, the lowest we've ever had in this country. The gender pay gap has a very real effect on the lives of women. We know women retire into poverty, we know women are a growing cohort of the homeless population and we know women without financial resources are less able to escape family violence. The Labor government's lowest ever gender pay gap didn't happen by accident. It is due to deliberate strategies of this government to address inequality in all its forms: the changes to the tax cuts that meant 100 per cent of women got a tax cut, with 90 per cent getting a better tax cut than what was planned under those opposite; and the rise in the minimum wage, with 15 per cent pay rises for aged-care workers and now for childcare workers.

Women in this country retire with an average of 25 per cent less superannuation than men. This is directly linked to women's homelessness and poverty, because time off work to care for children means a superannuation contribution gap. Our bill to pay superannuation on paid parental leave is specifically to address this shameful statistic—25 per cent—and so it was shocking to see those opposite move an amendment to directly undermine women's financial security, to directly ensure that women continue to retire into property with 25 per cent less superannuation than men. It isn't good enough, and every one of you who votes for it— (Time expired)

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.