Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Again I thank Senator Askew for her question, because it is important that there are a range of strategies, and the government has a number to reach that 50 per cent target. It includes the fact that portfolio ministers are specifically asked to do a number of things: to identify female candidates, to encourage external bodies that propose nominations to consider gender diversity in that process, and to develop specific strategies with their departments and agencies.

Our annual public reporting of gender balance on Australian government boards also plays a really important role in our tracking of progress against our target and in driving change. We maintain the BoardLinks database to assist portfolios to identify suitably qualified, board-ready female candidates. A number of our departments and agencies have adopted strategies tailored to their portfolios. Certainly my own has, and I know that the Department of Defence, for example, offers training to diversify its board membership to support the pipeline of board-ready women. These are all positive initiatives and strategies.