STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator COX (Western Australia) (13:59): The lowest gender pay gap ever recorded in Australia is 11.3 per cent. Down from 14.1 per cent when Labor took office, women working full-time now earn $325 more each week than they did in 2022. That is money back in women's bank accounts.

We backed a minimum wage rise, we lifted wages in aged care and early childhood education and we expanded paid parental leave to six months. We put super on top of that. For too long women have been handed the bill for inequality: less in their pay packet, less while raising children and less in their retirement.

Now, those opposite want to continue to hand them the bill, with Senator Bragg talking about how it's the biggest policy failure since Federation or comparing teens super to for super for cats and dogs. Senator Bragg: You're corrupt. Senator Ayres interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I didn't hear it, but, Senator Bragg, I'm sure that, if you said something unparliamentary, you will withdraw it.

Senator Bragg: I withdraw. Senator COX: While they're on the unity ticket— The PRESIDENT: It's now two pm. We'll move to question time.