Thursday, 18 May 2023

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:08): I rise to update the house on this government’s nation-leading work to achieve gender equality. I am really proud to update the house that this government is partnering with the Commonwealth government as regional Pacific partners convening a conference called ‘Women Deliver’. That conference is being held in July. It is likely to have over 6000 women from all around the world in Rwanda but, in preparation for this, in three weeks time we will be hosting all the regional delegates here in Melbourne to talk about the importance of a range of issues, particularly women’s health. This is only possible because of all the fantastic, great women that we have elected in this Parliament – having half of our caucus women and having more than 60 per cent women as ministers in our government.

How did we do it? Back in 1994 our party adopted quotas, and we kept building upon those quotas to deliver the outcomes we have today. We have more women on our front bench than the Liberal Party have in their caucus as a result of it. On behalf of the women of Victoria, I want to see more women elected and more women at every level of government, and I want to see more women of diverse backgrounds and more women in this place here. I know the Leader of the Opposition agrees with me, because he said on the record last year ‘We want more women representation’, but only a few days ago he came out saying ‘I’m not really a fan of quotas’, and we all know that he has managed to only reduce the number of women in his party room. I am a fan of quotas. More women equals better policies, better outcomes and better investment for women. Go on, John, give it a go: more women.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the Minister for Women to call members by their correct titles.