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) (14:10): I thank Senator Tyrrell for that supplementary. As Senator Tyrrell said, Australia is now ranked eighth in the world for gender equality, which is our highest-ever ranking.

In 2021, we ranked 50th. In 2022, when we came to government, we ranked 43rd. We have climbed 42 places in five years.

Now, this didn't happen by accident. It happened because the Albanese Labor government has made women's equality a priority for our government. In addition to those wage increases that we're talking about today in aged care and early childhood education and care, we've also made record investments in women's health and in women's medicines and treatments, including for menopause and contraception.

More than a million women have accessed cheaper medicines since 2025, saving over $150 million. Because of that program, more women are getting access to the treatments they need and the health care they need in a convenient and affordable way. There is more work to do, but we on this side of the chamber will keep doing it.

(Time expired)