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 Darmanin for that question and acknowledge all those in the Labor government who have worked hard to make sure gender equality is at the centre of our decision-making.

We can see, as a result of those decisions, of the policies we have developed over a long period of time—including in opposition and then implemented in government, off the back of the work of many on this side of the chamber and indeed those in the government in the other place—that we have now, for the first time, entered the top 10 in the global gender equality rankings.

Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: We on this side of the chamber think that gender equality is important for the economy— The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Minister. Please resume your seat. Senator Mckenzie, I would ask you to stop the yelling.

Minister Gallagher, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you. In 2021 we ranked 50th in the world.

When we came to government it was 43rd in the world. We have consistently, both through our representation of women in leadership and decision-making across the parliament and in the policies we've enacted, ensured that the ranking continues to improve year on year, and this year we have come in at No. 8. That is because of a range of things.

Of course women's representation in parliament is important and has assisted in that, but also our policies include the wages policy that we've implemented in those feminised industries of aged care and early education and care, extending paid parental leave and putting super on it, ensuring that super works for women with reforms to payday super and the LISTO—the low-income super tax offset—the three-day guarantee in child care to make sure the childcare system works better for women, free TAFE, paid prac and, of course, publishing the gender pay gaps of Australia's largest companies to really flush out what is happening when it comes to pay and women.

And we can see those results reflected in this global ranking news. The PRESIDENT: Senator Darmanin, first supplementary?