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SenateWednesday 24 June 2026

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:08): I thank Senator Whiteaker for that question too. She is right that we have put driving gender equality and providing better support to women at the centre of government decision-making since coming to government.

It is about the programs in women's health, about closing the gender pay gap, which is now the lowest it's ever been, about lifting wages and about ensuring women are able to work if they choose to and are not penalised for taking on extra hours. We've done, of course, our paid family and domestic violence leave, our expansion of PPL, our super on PPL and, in women's health, modern contraceptives, adding them on the PBS the first time in over 30 years.

Modern menopause treatments are coming through the PBS, where no new options had been placed for the last 20 years. We've opened up our endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics around the country. They are open and being very well supported by women who need that kind of care.

And we will continue to focus on making sure we are addressing gaps in how we support women across our economy. The PRESIDENT: Senator Whiteaker, second supplementary?

SourceSenate, Wednesday 24 June 2026 — official recordTA-260624-senate-7bf3cfa288f1:s141