In an increasingly uncertain and ever-changing world, women and girls in Australia have seen many of the things we take for granted here at home gradually eroded in other parts of the world.
The right to bodily autonomy, the right to appropriate healthcare, the right to the same opportunities and rewards as their male counterparts.
And of course, in the most extreme places and examples, the right to vote or to work.
But as disheartening and concerning as these backwards steps may be, here in Australia we have a different vision.
We know the invaluable contribution women make to our economy, to our industries, to our families, and to our communities.
And we are determined to not only hold onto the rights the women who came before us fought so hard and so passionately for, we are also committed to breaking down more barriers until we have a truly even playing field.
Our vision is for a country where no one is left behind and where no one is held back.
The Albanese Government has been working since day one to build on the gains women have made in Australia and we are proud of the progress that has been made.
We want to improve women’s lives, to give them safety and security, to give them choices and opportunities, and to give them financial independence.
And by advancing gender equality, we also strengthen our economy, our families, our communities and our country’s future.
Since being elected in 2022, the Albanese Labor government has worked to improve the lives of women and girls around the country by putting women's economic and social equality at the centre of our policy agenda.
These efforts have been driven across all portfolios by a government that is proudly 56 per cent women and led by Australia's first gender-equal cabinet.
While we’ve made significant progress on gender equality since coming to government, women in Australia still face structural barriers that affect workforce participation, health, safety, career progression, retirement outcomes and financial security.
This budget continues the work of addressing those inequalities through practical and targeted reform.
And we are already seeing the results of the investments and structural changes delivered since Labor came to office.
Since 2022, women’s average weekly earnings have increased by almost $300 per week.
More than one million families have benefited from cheaper childcare.
Women have saved more than $647 million on medicines through reductions in the cost of PBS prescriptions and expanded access to contraceptives and menopause therapies.
Australia has also achieved its highest ever international ranking for gender equality, rising from 43rd to 13th globally since this government came to office.
These outcomes show that sustained investment and reform make a meaningful difference in the lives of Australian women.
A central focus of this budget is creating greater opportunity and driving economic empowerment for the women of Australia.
The new $250 Working Australians Tax Offset will benefit approximately 6.3 million women, and around 6.2 million women are expected to benefit from the government’s new instant tax deduction of up to $1,000 for work-related expenses.
Combined with the government’s broader tax reforms, a woman earning an average wage could be close to $3,000 a year better off by 2027–28 compared with the tax settings that were previously in place.
These measures provide practical cost-of-living relief.
This budget also delivers long called for reform to the child support system. The first major reform in nearly 20 years.
The child support system has been difficult to navigate, slow to respond and, in some cases, vulnerable to misuse as a tool of financial abuse and coercive control.
There are almost 100,000 parents and carers in the child support system who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing family and domestic violence.
Women have too often been left carrying the financial burden of raising children while struggling to secure the payments they are legally entitled to receive.
That’s why we’re investing $182.6 million to make the system safer, fairer and more effective.
This investment will improve the accuracy and timeliness of payments, strengthen enforcement against those avoiding their obligations, and make the system easier for families to navigate.
Importantly, these reforms are also aimed at reducing the weaponisation of the child support system against women and children following separation.
Despite the progress we have made, family and gender-based violence remains a shameful and dangerous fact of life for far too many women and children.
And I share the frustration and anger of women as they despair at news of yet another family violence tragedy around once every week.
For far too long, family violence was swept under the carpet, ignored, diminished, blamed on the victim and normalised.
This must change.
Together, we will continue to prioritise women’s safety.
Since 2022, our government has invested more than $4.4 billion towards the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.
This budget contribute to that effort through further investment in frontline services, legal support and prevention initiatives.
That includes $218.3 million to support the first long-term First Nations-led national strategy to end family, domestic and sexual violence.
It includes additional support for frontline domestic violence workers through the 500 Workers Initiative.
And it continues legal assistance for victim-survivors navigating family law matters involving domestic and family violence.
These investments recognise that ending violence against women requires long-term commitment, and coordinated action.
This budget continues investment in the services and supports that are critical to women’s health.
Labor’s nearly $800 million investment into women’s health continues to make a life changing difference to women across Australia.
More than 700,000 women have already benefited from cheaper PBS prescriptions covering contraceptives, menopause treatments and endometriosis medicines.
Medicare has also been strengthened, with over 71,000 women accessing a new menopause health assessment.
Our government has funded 33 Endometriosis and Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinics and expanded access to gynaecological services for women across the country.
We have established an Expert Panel on Women’s Health that will provide advice to government on areas of health that disproportionately impact women so that we can reduce gender bias in the health system.
And we have made significant investments in mental health, including perinatal mental health services.
And when it comes to housing there has never been a more ambitious government determined to help people gain the security of a roof over their head.
Not only are we making the tax system fairer we have already taken steps to support those who are renting and those who are looking to buy.
We have funded a 50% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance, we have commenced the construction of 30,000 social and affordable homes and we are assisting first home buyers put the key in the door of their very own home.
And for those women and children who are the most vulnerable, we are investing $1 billion in crisis and transitional accommodation.
A Labor government introduced the world’s first Women’s Budget Statement back in the 80s and in 2022, the Albanese Labor Government brought it back.
The Women’s Budget Statement outlines the impact new budget measures have on women.
In 2022, we put in place gender-responsive budgeting. Which means that we consider impacts on gender equality when we make budget decisions.
It is an essential part of ensuring gender equality is at the core of our economic agenda
The Women’s Budget Statement summarises our government’s initiatives, underpinned by our vision to continue the steady progress towards gender equality.
We have expanded choice for parents through cheaper childcare and more paid parental leave.
We have lifted the wages of workers in highly feminised industries like early childhood education and care and aged care and we have supported stronger minimum wage and award wage setting, alongside other important workplace reforms.
Our government has delivered record investment in women’s health, we are building more secure housing and we have strengthened the social safety net by increasing income supports.
As we look around the world we can be proud that here, in Australia, we enter this period of global uncertainty from a position of strength.
We will continue to build a fair society that values empathy and kindness, that is inclusive and welcoming and that gives everyone the opportunity to participate in our economy and community.
Progressing gender equality is central to our work and the Albanese Labor Government remains more committed than ever to deliver better outcomes for Australian women.