Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. Can the minister please outline what the Liberals and Nationals in government are doing to support more women into leadership positions and further close the gender pay gap that Labor is always worried about, including through initiatives in the Women's Budget Statement?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I will call the minister when there is silence. The Minister for Women, Senator Payne.

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

I thank Senator Davey for her question. The improvement of women's economic security and supporting more women into leadership positions are key priorities for the Morrison government. The 2021-22 Women's Budget Statement includes a $38.3 million expansion, for example, of the successful Women's Leadership and Development Program that is funding innovative projects across Australia that support women into leadership roles, including—as I know Senator Davey recognises the importance of—in regional Australia. In the Morrison-Joyce cabinet, seven women hold cabinet positions, the highest number ever, including three of my colleagues here in the Senate, sitting with me today. Four additional positions in the ministry or the assistant ministry are also held by women. Those cabinet and ministry members are all members of the cabinet task force on women's safety and economic security.

We also support women's leadership in the public sector, including a 50 per cent target for women on Australian government board positions, and we are on track to meet those commitments. Our Women's Budget Statement also includes a $17 million investment to support world-class sporting events and development programs for women and girls in both football and basketball. We know that sport can be greatly beneficial to women's leadership—for players, for administrators, for coaches and for volunteers. We warmly welcome the FIFA Women's World Cup coming to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and the Netball World Cup.

Across Australia, I note, importantly, the gender pay gap is at a record low level of 13.4 per cent, and we are committed to driving that even lower. I particularly want to welcome the leadership of the director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Mary Wooldridge. She will play a key role in that work in the coming months and years and she is highly regarded for her contribution in this area. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline the support that is provided through the Women's Leadership and Development Program that you just mentioned?

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

Across Australia over 60 organisations will receive support under the Women's Leadership and Development Program to deliver projects that improve women's leadership and development across five key areas: job creation, economic security, workforce participation, leadership and safety. The program funds projects including Women Building Australia, run by Master Builders Australia to support more women into building and construction. Then there's Tiddas in Business, in Mango Hill, in the Moreton Bay region, which supports Aboriginal women in urban, regional and remote locations in starting their own businesses. And there's the Tasmanian based Brave Foundation, which builds support and acceptance around expecting and parenting teens as they seek employment.

I reviewed the electorates across Australia in which the WLDP program is supporting organisations like those I've already mentioned. It doesn't matter whether it's Bendigo or Durack, whether it is Grey or Lingiari, right across Australia we're supporting women's— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a final supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister please explain what our government is doing to promote women leaders through Australian government board positions and other key appointments?

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

Senator Davey's question is a very important and timely one. We know that gender diversity on boards, for example, contributes to more effective and innovative decision-making and outcomes. In December of 2020 women held a record 49.5 per cent of Australian government board positions. We have strategies in place to meet the target of 50 per cent, and I'm personally committed to continuing to increase gender diversity and to reach that target.

As a coalition government we've appointed a number of women to senior leadership positions, including the outgoing secretary of my own department, Frances Adamson. Secretary Adamson has done an exceptional job as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I want to acknowledge her leadership, her own commitment to diversity. What she has brought to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the change that she has overseen in the department over the 36 years of her role in DFAT, is exceptional. I attended her speech at the National Press Club today with Senator Birmingham, Senator Seselja and Senator Wong to acknowledge that leadership.