In a record-breaking week for women’s leadership and representation, a new report has revealed more women than ever now sit on Australian Government boards.

The newly released Gender Balance on Australian Government Boards Annual Report 2023-2024 shows that women now hold a record high of 54 per cent of positions on Australian Government boards.

When reporting on gender balance on Australian Government boards first began in 2009, women represented just 33.4 per cent of board members.

The Albanese Labor Government has committed over $2 million towards improving the health of marine parks surrounding Tasmania and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.

The South-east Marine Parks network is made up of 14 Australian Marine Parks off the coast of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

It is home to a diverse range of fish and other creatures, such as crabs, coral, sea urchins and sponges.

Iconic species such as southern bluefin tuna and blue whales also roam through the south-east.

Subjects: Cost of living, protests, Anti-Semitism, Queensland budget.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back to the show. Peter Dutton has for the first time gained a significant lead over Anthony Albanese as preferred PM amid growing frustration over the cost of living. Joining us to discuss, Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and political strategist Scott Emerson. Malarndirri, wow, look at your hair. You look amazing.

TRACEE HUTCHISON, HOST: You're listening to Fierce on Broad Radio, Tracee Hutchison here with you. Great to have your company. We hear a lot don't we about the gender pay gap, the significant difference in salaries between men and women and efforts to address that divide. Well, a new report this week shows that pay gap is slowly narrowing with women earning $79 cents in every dollar men earn, still probably a gap that's a little too big for my liking and our liking.

TARLA LAMBERT, HOST: Kate Thwaites. It's lovely to have you on the podcast. Thank you so much for making time.

KATE THWAITES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, AGEING AND WOMEN: I'm really pleased to be joining you.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Welcome to you both, both familiar to the program but a new combo we are trying here today. Let's start with housing. Kate, I will go to you first. I’m not sure you could credibly deny that the Prime Minister’s purchase with his fiancée of the 4 million dollar property is not a water cooler moment for the nation, it is being discussed widely. Would you acknowledge that?

DAN COX, HOST: Prevention’s better than cure, you’ve heard that time and time again. Nowhere is that more important than when it comes to tackling domestic and family and sexual violence. Preventing it before it starts. The Federal Government's trialling an early intervention program, and one of the twelve sites will be in the Hunter region. Teenage boys at risk of becoming violent will be part of it. So, how will it work?

JENNY MARCHANT, HOST: Kate Thwaites is the Assistant Minister for Women. Good morning.

KATE THWAITES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, AGEING AND WOMEN: Well, today we have good news around the gender pay gap. It is closing, but of course, it is still large. It is closing as a result of the work this Government is doing. Particularly the work we are doing to support women in low-paid highly feminised industries - in our caring industries, like aged care and early childhood education.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Joining me is Labor MP, Member for Jagajaga and Assistant Minister Kate Thwaites, and Liberal MP and Member for Menzies Keith Wolahan. Both are joining us from Melbourne today. Welcome to you both. Why don't we start on childcare. It's very dear to your heart throughout your parliamentary career and perhaps before your parliamentary career, we will start with you Kate. A bit of a road map laid down by the Productivity Commission but it comes at substantial additional cost. At least $5 billion. How is that going to be funded?

How much attention do you pay to your super? Is it “set and forget”? A future-you problem?

If so, you’re not alone – according to recent research half of all Australians are actively engaged with their superannuation, with women even more likely to disengage.

I believe this is because we’ve been thinking about super all wrong.

As Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women, I see the impact and the power that super affords to women.