Gender Equity Discussions in the House of Reps (12/02/2025)

Women’s Health Issues

• Statements on Women’s Health: Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, presented significant issues related to women’s health, including systemic gender bias and the inadequacies within healthcare that affect women’s experiences. She emphasized the importance of better representation of women’s health issues in policy development and discussed recent investments in women’s health, such as menstrual hygiene products for First Nations women and improved access to reproductive health services. Kearney stressed that addressing these issues requires women’s active participation in decision-making roles (pages 1-3).
• Opposition Response: Sussan Ley MP of the Liberal Party acknowledged previous shortcomings in women’s health policies and reaffirmed the Opposition’s commitment to supporting initiatives focused on women’s health. She conveyed that women’s health should remain a non-partisan issue while also referencing the Coalition’s past investments and plans to align with the government’s recent commitments (page 3).
• Childcare Policies: The Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025 was introduced, designed to increase accessibility to childcare subsidies by guaranteeing three days of care per fortnight, which previously depended on an activity test. This reform aims to encourage workforce participation among women, highlighting the positive impacts on working families. The Deputy Speaker, Emma McBride, and other MPs noted how these changes would significantly affect women’s ability to balance work and family responsibilities (pages 18-22).

Legislative and Community Support Measures

• Future Plans for Women’s Support: The discussions included a focus on enhancing childcare affordability and accessibility, which are critical for supporting women and families across Australia. Members emphasized these priorities as part of ongoing governmental initiatives aimed at addressing the specific needs of women in the workforce and ensuring better support systems are in place (pages 22-23).
• A Gender-Responsive Approach: Throughout the session, there was a recurring theme of implementing gender-responsive initiatives in both healthcare and family support policies, reflecting a broader commitment to advancing gender equity and women’s rights within legislative frameworks. MPs underscored the need for policies that recognize and address the distinct challenges faced by women in various sectors (pages 1-23).