40 years ago today, there was seismic change for women. But there's still more to do

1 August 1984 was a day of seismic change for women across Australia.

At a time when women were unlikely to be approved for home loans, faced limited maternity leave provisions, if any, and were able to have their employment legally terminated on account of marital status or falling pregnant — the successful implementation of Labor trailblazer Susan Ryan's Sex Discrimination Act righted many of the wrongs that coloured women's experiences in the workplace and the world.

The Productivity Commission’s latest Closing the Gap data highlights the critical need for more work to be done to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The latest Annual Data Compilation Report, based on data first released in February, is tracking progress towards the targets and indicators in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The report shows that only five of 19 targets are on track to be met.

ON TRACK

STEWART BRASH, HOST: Well, late last week with the news that Linda Burney was stepping down as the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, the pundits quickly promoted NT Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy as the front runner to take over the job. Come Sunday, PM Anthony Albanese made the call and Senator McCarthy was duly announced as the holder of one the toughest portfolios in the Federal government.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Well, we put out the call. We weren't sure where in the world he was. But Jason Falinski is back. Of course, he's joining Labor MP Patrick Gorman. Thank you both for your time. Jason starting with you. Good trip? Happy to be back? It was good? I don't know if you contacted us because you got that special call from Patrick Gorman, who looked down camera four in the end I figured out it was and said, please pick up the phone. You did, pretty effective. 

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: Jodie and I have been talking a lot over the last two months since Peter Dutton made his announcement that this was going to be home to one of his seven nuclear reactors. But what we've actually been doing is saying that Collie doesn't need to wait till 2040 or beyond for a nuclear reactor that may or may not work. There's opportunities happening right now, we've just been out with Neoen, seeing the massive battery, their biggest battery that they've built in Australia.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS, HOST: Earlier this morning you will remember I was discussing big batteries with the CEO of Synergy David Fyfe. Well coincidentally, and it is a coincidence, the Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, is in Collie this morning to visit one of the big batteries being built there. He's also the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and he had a chat to Damian Smith just a little earlier this morning.

bajinda yamaluyinda ngarna Yanyuwa wuka lianthawiriyarra.

As a Saltwater woman from Borroloola, the Yanyuwa Garrawa people, I pay my respects to the Cammeraygal people, their ancestors, past, present and emerging.

Thank you, Minister Gasper – and thank you to the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands for hosting the meeting in Marshall Islands.

I join you today from the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people and I pay my respects to their continuing culture and connections to land, water and community.

I acknowledge all of those joining today in person and around our Blue Pacific region.

I am Australia’s Minister for Women, Finance and the Public Service.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: My government has always been focused on tackling the challenges of the here and now in a way that builds for the long term. Helping people with cost of living pressures while investing in making our future here in Australia as a theme of the last budget, but it's a theme of the last two and a bit years as well. We do this as a united team through cabinet government.

Australia’s internationally recognised ability to respond to national health emergencies has been further strengthened with the opening of a world-class training facility at Bees Creek, just outside of Darwin.

The purpose-built Bees Creek training facility, funded by the Australian Government on land provided by the Territory Labor Government, supports the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.