PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: The Finance Minister Katy Gallagher joins us now on RN Breakfast. Minister, welcome.
SENATOR THE HON. KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Good morning, PK.
KARVELAS: David Pocock says the staffing cut was made at the whim of the Prime Minister for his own political advantage. Why is he doing this? Why has he put the crossbench offside before Parliament even sits?
The Albanese Government’s commitment to restore national leadership on gender equality has been endorsed at the Jobs and Skills Summit with agreement that improving women’s workforce participation is critical for Australia’s future economic prosperity and resilience.
The role of women, the opportunities from unlocking the untapped talent of Australian women to participate fully in the workforce and the need to provide respectful and safe workplaces for all, was a key theme across all sessions of the two day Summit.
Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher has announced that Ms Sam Mostyn AO has been appointed as Chair of the Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, bringing with her decades of experience in the gender equality and advocacy space.
The Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce will provide independent advice to the Government on a broad range of issues facing women in Australia, including to inform the development of a National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality.
Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher will attend the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Bali, Indonesia from 24–26 August 2022.
The themes of this year’s conference — the care economy post-COVID-19, closing the digital gender gap, and women’s entrepreneurship — are closely aligned with the Government’s commitment to making women’s equal opportunity a social and economic priority.
Mr GORMAN (Perth—Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) (15:17): on indulgence—I'd like to pay tribute to the life of Sir David Smith. Every student of Australian history recognises Sir David. Those iconic images of the Dismissal are part of our national story. Today we recognise the contribution behind the scenes of, to quote the Canberra Times, one of the most respected public servants.
The Albanese Government will invest $15.84 million to fund six projects that will see women’s workforce participation boosted and women’s representation in leadership positions increased.
Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said the projects, which will be funded over four years and directly benefit 5,000 women nation-wide, go hand-in-hand with the Government’s emphasis on women’s economic equality.
The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to support the families of deceased Youpla Group policy holders, so they can get on with Sorry Business and bury their loved ones.
As an interim measure, the Youpla Group Funeral Benefits Program will pay a grant in place of a funeral benefit that would otherwise have been paid by the Youpla Group before its collapse.
Payments will be made to eligible beneficiaries of Youpla Group policy holders who had an active policy on or after 1 April 2020.
SAM LIM, MEMBER FOR TANGNEY: Good morning, everyone, and thanks for coming. Looks like the rain is not stopping anyone, good on you. My name is Sam Lim, I'm the Federal MP for Tangney. I'd like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land paying my respect to the elders past, present and emerging. And I would like to introduce my good colleague, my mentor, the Member of Parliament for Perth and also Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Gorman.