Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Women and Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Minister, you've spoken before about the Albanese government's commitment to paid parental leave, a policy that Labor introduced and that is now expanding and modernising. Labor's commitment to PPL is also about valuing the important work of caring for babies, supporting families to share the care and reducing the long-term economic impact of time out of the workforce, especially for women. Can the minister please outline why the government is committed to paid parental leave and why adding superannuation to PPL is a priority?

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

I thank Senator O'Neill for such a good question—an important question as we continue to drive economic equality for women across this country—and for Senator O'Neill's long advocacy in this area. I acknowledge that today.

When we came to government, we had a long list of things that had been left undone or ignored relating to women in this country, and we started implementing changes and announcing new measures. One of those was about expanding paid parental leave, which the former Labor government bought in over a decade ago. It always takes Labor governments to do these important social changes that drive outcomes for women. We expanded that to 26 weeks by 2026, and we are seeing those increasing weeks come on board this year. We've introduced reserve leave for each parent. This will reach four weeks by the end of 2026, with the remaining week shared between parents however they may decide, and that's about making it flexible for families. An important part that we hadn't addressed was paying superannuation on paid parental leave. It was something that had been advocated for and campaigned about for years. It was the only employment condition that didn't have super paid on it, and we put that in place in this year's budget. It is due to come in on 1 July next year.

This is an important change to paid parental leave, but it's an important statement from the government about the value that we place on parents taking time out of the paid workforce to care for the next generations—whether it be the birth parent or the non-birth parent of that child. We want that condition to be flexible, but we don't want people to pay an additional penalty because they're doing that. This is work we value. It is important work, and we know that all the data shows women pay a penalty for taking time out for it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, first supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How is the government supporting the retirement savings of mothers and parents caring for their children, and are you aware of any alternative positions?

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

Thank you, Senator O'Neill, I am aware of an alternative position. We've heard—it has Senator Bragg's hands all over it, doesn't it? It has his hands all over it. It's no real surprise that after a failure to do anything on PPL or to strengthen super or to put super on paid parental leave that the opposition has announced that they don't think it's that important. Why not? That's right—choice. We always hear that. It's always about choice.

This is about ensuring that women don't retire with 25 per cent less than men at the same age. This is about ensuring that we are sending a message that, when you are caring for children, you deserve to have superannuation paid on that leave. Every answer from those opposite is about raiding your super. COVID? Raid your super. Housing? Raid your super. Now, with PPL, it's raid your super.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order, Senator Scarr and Senator Bragg. Senator O'Neill, second supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's really disappointing to hear the voices in this chamber articulating once again that the opposition are letting down Australian women. The Liberals will take any chance they can get to undermine the super system. We saw that in the pandemic, and they want to do it again for housing. How is this approach from the Liberals and the Nationals the latest attack on women's economic security?

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

Thank you, Senator O'Neill, for that question. It is women's economic security that is being attacked here. We have report after report, women who have fought for decades to get super on PPL, experts who have repeatedly recommended super on PPL and challenging evidence that shows there is a direct link between unpaid care and women's retirement incomes.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Order across the chamber, but particularly on my left. Minister, please continue.

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

I will say it again, that mob over there have never met a problem they don't think super can fix. In COVID times, it was, 'Raid your super and look after yourself'. A lot of women did that and they're now behind. Housing pressures? 'Raid your super and buy the house' despite all the experts saying that's ridiculous. Experiencing violence? 'Raid your super'. Go and raid all that super you don't have. And now, super on PPL—'raid your super'. That's your answer to everything.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's their money!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath and Senator Hughes! Senator McGrath in particular, I've had to call you to order a number of times since question time started. You are out of order!