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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.

Forty years on from that momentous day, I’m pleased to say we’ve come a long way, with successive governments continuing to deliver changes that have made women’s lives safer, fairer and more equal.

Key reforms like the Equal Opportunities in Employment Act, Parenting Payment (Single), the Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave Scheme, the Family Law Court and no-fault divorce have all profoundly changed women’s lives for the better.

In 2010 we elected our first woman prime minister and, in 2022, our first majority-women government.

And this year, I was proud to announce that the government would pay a 12 per cent superannuation guarantee on top of Commonwealth Paid Parental – a crucial step in closing the gap between men’s and women’s retirement incomes.

But although progress has been undeniable, from where we stand in 2024, I know there is still more to do.

One of the great privileges of being the Minister for Women is getting to listen to women from all around the country, who do not shy away from letting me know what is and isn’t working for them – what we, as a government can do better.

I know there is no “average” or “typical” Australian woman. Each of us has different responsibilities, comes from different backgrounds and has unique dreams and aspirations.

But still, when I’m out and about in the community, the things that women raise with me are pretty similar – and they’re issues that aren’t new, but that do reflect the enduring challenges that persist for so many women.

Women tell me that they just want to be safe – at home, at work, in the street.

That they don’t want to be crushed under the weight of juggling caring responsibilities and work, navigating complex systems and picking up the lion’s share of the load at home.

Women want equal pay. And they want to retire with enough superannuation in their bank accounts to provide some economic independence.

Women want to live free from violence – and the threat of violence.

And they – we – don’t want to wait for another generation to see all of that happen.

Since coming to Government, we have laid foundations that start to address these concerns. In fact, since coming to Government some of our biggest investments have been to improve the lives of women and girls.

Everywhere across our agenda, we’re looking for ways to drive home a better deal for women. This work is being done right across the Government – not just by me, but by every minister, every day. And I’m pleased to say we now have more hands on deck with the worthy appointment of Kate Thwaites MP as the Assistant Minister for Women.

For Labor, placing women at the centre of our decision-making is not just a theoretical endeavour. We know that being in Government is about choices and the Albanese Government chooses to back women.

So, just as Susan Ryan and others in the Hawke government rolled up their sleeves and did the work 40 years ago, we have to continue the work now – the work of feminist politicians.

We’ve made remarkable gains, but there is more to be done before we can say women are truly equal in this country. And in the spirit of Susan Ryan herself, my colleagues and I are committed to “just keep going” until we get there.