Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Payman for the question and for the amount of work she's already done, in her career as a young senator, in advocating on behalf of low-paid and women workers across Australia, particularly in WA. Women are disproportionately represented in low-paid and award-reliant jobs, and we don't want to see women go backwards in what they earn. Despite the recent improvement in the gender pay gap, there remains a substantial disparity in earnings between men and women, and we are committed to continuing to work to close this gap.

The government is doing its job in making structural reforms that allow women to get a better deal out of the economy. Our submission to the annual wage review sticks up for the millions of Australian women who want a better deal in their pay packet each week. Analysis in our submission shows that there is still work to do to lift women's labour force participation; that increases in the minimum wage are likely to decrease gender pay gaps and increase the incentive for women to enter the workforce or to work more hours than they currently do; and that increases to minimum and award wages provide income boosts for those most likely to be in less secure employment, such as casual employees and multiple job holders—that's also where a lot of women find their employment.

Labor's secure jobs, better pay reforms put gender equality front and centre in the Fair Work Commission's considerations, and, through those reforms, gender equality has been added to minimum wage and modern award objectives. As everyone in this place knows, women's economic equality is a core priority for this government. We'll continue to advocate for women's economic equality in all that we do, in all of the policy work and decisions that we take through the budget process.