Thursday, 4 May 2023

Ministers statements: gender equality

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:16): I rise to update the house on this government’s proud work in gender equality – leading the nation. That is why we set up an independent inquiry into economic equality for women, and we are getting on with delivering the recommendations out of that. As a result of this inquiry, next week the Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty and I will be meeting with stakeholders from the manufacturing industry to discuss ways to attract and retain women in the male-dominated manufacturing industry. This builds on the work that has already been done by this government on women in construction and women in transport, and I look forward to partnering with the minister for energy on bringing more women into the renewable energy sector as well.

But we are not just partnering in the private sector, we also leading the way in the public sector. Our Gender Equality Act 2020 was the first of its kind in Australia, and last year we welcomed the first baseline report of gender auditing done anywhere in this nation. This was delivered by Victoria’s first gender equality commissioner Niki Vincent. To date 300 public sector entities have submitted gender equality action plans, which allow us to track their progress. The plans look at closing the gender gap across these organisations, promoting women into leadership and addressing sexual harassment and bullying of women in the workplace. Maybe those opposite could benefit from a gender equality plan in their party. As a government we also lead by example, with more than 50 per cent women in our cabinet room – the first time achieved in Victoria’s history – and parity on our government boards, thanks to our women on boards policy, because we know quotas and affirmative action work. The Andrews government works and will continue to work at every level to make workplaces fairer and more equitable.