Tuesday, 2 August 2022

 Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:27): I rise to update the house on my attendance at the recent meeting of ministers from around Australia responsible for women and women’s safety that was convened by the national Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher. At the meeting I outlined for my federal and state counterparts the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to addressing women’s equality through economic and workforce participation. I am extremely proud of this government’s commitment to support women and our nation-leading Best Start, Best Life initiative, backed in by a $9 billion commitment. I have to share with the house that there was a lot of interest in this initiative at the meeting, including how we are working with the New South Wales government.

The Andrews Labor government will deliver landmark reform to childhood education and care, with a massive $9 billion investment over the next decade to save families money and to support women in returning to the workforce. Whilst more dads are staying at home with the kids, it is still the mums who do the lion’s share of work with child care. This initiative will make kinder free for every Victorian family and deliver a new year of universal pre-prep for four-year-olds across the state. It means next year a family with a three-year-old or a four-year-old—in the case of the member for Northcote, she has both a three-year-old and a four-year-old—will pay nothing for kinder, saving them thousands, and we are building 50 new low-cost, government-operated childcare centres in childcare deserts across the state to ensure that regional parents do not have to travel long distances for a great start to their kids’ lives. It is about creating opportunity and giving women the time and the freedom to pursue their own goals and their own ambitions.

And speaking of giving women choices, this side of the house supports women being able to access safe, legal and dignified reproductive choices, including abortion.