Tuesday, 12 August 2025

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (14:35): I rise to update the house on this government’s work around closing the gender pay gap and increasing women’s participation in paid work. Everybody knows that being able to work from home benefits Victorian families, in particular Victorian women – everybody except those on that side, who, with their federal colleagues, have alienated thousands of women with their out-of-touch pledge to remove the rights of flexible work. I am proud that this government will introduce legislation that will enshrine the right to work from home for up to two days a week where the role is able to and it is reasonable to do so. We know that not every job can be done remotely, but for those which can, even just for a little bit of time, working from home can help a family. It helps women manage the competing demands of caregiving and paid work. Work from home keeps women in the workforce that would have otherwise been pushed out of it.

On top of this, Victoria’s commissioner for gender equality in the public service has shown that flexible work arrangements are a part of best practice and can help narrow the gender pay gap. Ahead of Equal Pay Day next week, which will mark the additional days that women have to work to make what men have already earned, I want to commend any action that is being taken to close that unjust gender pay gap in this state. It should not be a surprise that those opposite stand against policies that help women thrive at work. Just look at their all-male leadership team; that speaks volumes. At a time when women are shouldering an increased cost of living –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Footscray can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Footscray withdrew from chamber.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, this ministers statement is deeply offensive to a woman who is in leadership on this side. It has gone to policy positions which I strongly believe in. She has misrepresented me and other women on this side and other men on this side who absolutely are committed to working from home, and I ask her to withdraw those inflammatory and incorrect remarks.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, standing order 118 prohibits imputations and personal reflections. The comments that the minister made are baseless and outrageous, and I would ask you to ask her to refrain from doing so.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to cease attacking the opposition in her ministers statement. The minister did not mention any particular member of Parliament, but I do ask her to be mindful of imputations.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for South-West Coast will leave the chamber for half an hour. The member for Euroa will leave the chamber for half an hour.

Members for South-West Coast and Euroa withdrew from chamber.

Natalie HUTCHINS: Working from home gets more people working and, most importantly, gives more women a chance in the paid workforce.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lowan can leave the chamber for an hour and a half. The member for Eureka can leave the chamber for an hour and a half.

Members for Lowan and Eureka withdrew from chamber.