Ms LEY (Farrer—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (09:06): I rise today to address the minister's statement on the World Economic Forum gender gap report rankings. The Global gender gap report 2023 was released in June and it has some sobering reminders of the sadly present gap between women and men across the world. It notes that over recent years there have been big shocks and major setbacks on the road towards gender parity: the pandemic, economic deterioration and geopolitical tensions. Recent history has seen great disruption, and we all know that when disruption occurs it is women and children who hurt the most and who wear the cost. This is as true in Sierra Leone as it is in Suva and as true in Sydney as it is in Shanghai. So, as the world once again stares down the brink of a downturn, this report is a timely reminder of the ongoing challenges we face across the world in bringing women up to parity with men. The report notes: The tepid progress on persistently large gaps documented in this seventeenth edition of the Global Gender Gap Report creates an urgent case for renewed and concerted action. It says: The global gender gap score in 2023 for all 146 countries included in this edition stands at 68.4% closed. Considering the constant sample of 145 countries covered in both the 2022 and 2023 editions, the overall score changed from 68.1% to 68.4%, an improvement of 0.3 percentage points compared to last year's edition. When considering the 102 countries covered continuously from 2006 to 2023, the gap is 68.6% closed in 2023, recovering to the level reported in the 2020 edition and advancing by a modest 4.1 percentage points since the first edition of the report in 2006. Particularly sobering is the observation: At the current rate of progress, it will take 131 years to reach full parity. Australia has performed well according to the statistics in this report, and this is a good thing. But we also must take some of these numbers with a grain of salt because, while improvements in economic participation are welcomed, if they are attributed to women having no other choice than to go back to work to make ends meet then this is concerning. Statistics are important, but so too are the lived experiences of women across the world, because a community that empowers women looks better in a report, yes, but it is also a better community to live in. Good women's policy is good economic policy and it is good social policy. When we lift women up we go forward. In my own life, I remember what it was like trying to make a career as a female pilot. I was just a young girl who wanted to fly planes. I knew I wanted to as soon as I saw them. But it was not an easy path. That young child didn't see many women who were pilots, but I knew if I could just get the chance to fly I would prove them all wrong. So I didn't give up, and I gave it a red-hot go. I remember the way I felt when men dismissed me time and time again and said I would never cut it; I remember what it was like working the late shifts to save up and pay my way through my pilots course; I remember the spark of joy when I got into that course and was on my way to living out my dream; I remember the elation I felt when I flew alone for the first time and when I graduated; and I remember my deep disappointment when I was rejected time after time because they didn't want women at the front of the plane. I did not give up on my dream, and I did become a pilot, but bridging that gender gap was hard. It is still too hard for many women. Today gender based discrimination remains present across the world, and this report makes that very clear. We are so lucky to live in Australia, and we have come so far from the days when I was denied the opportunity to live my dream because of my gender. We live in a country committed to securing a better future for women and girls, where our daughters can chase their dreams. But this report, like so many others, is a clear reminder that the important work of gender parity remains unfinished. We need to keep up the work together to close the gender gap. Whether that is the pay gap or the gap of women in leadership or in male dominated industries, there is more work to do. I do note that Australia has seen positive progress in the 2023 report, particularly as it relates to the scores the report attributes to women in parliament. I welcome the fact that there are more women in parliament—of course I do—and it will be no surprise to you, Mr Speaker, that I wish there were more Liberals. I want to reiterate the opposition's commitment to stepping up and improving our contribution to this area of focus. We have said we want to see more women putting up their hand to run for the Liberal Party and to sit in this place as MPs and senators. We are focused on doing the work to get more women into this place. We are focused on fighting for the interests of women, and we are listening to them. We acknowledge that a number of women felt that we came up short in responding to the concerns they had at the last election. But those opposite can say what they like on this issue—I stand by the strong women in the Liberal Party, and I stand by the work we are doing across the nation. We have incredible women in the Liberal Party doing incredible work. We have women from diverse backgrounds, like Elizabeth Lee, the opposition leader in the ACT and the first Korean Australian politician; Lia Finocchiaro up in the Northern Territory; or Libby Mettam in Western Australia, who is outpolling the Premier. In this building, we have strong regional women, like the member for Forrest, who is a dairy and cattle farmer from Western Australia; formidable businesswomen, like the member for Flinders; or local champions, like the member for Bass in Tasmania, a previous mayor, and the member for Lindsay in Penrith, who has done wonderful work for women. And I could go on. This report is a reminder that we all have more work to do to help women live out their dreams and reach their full potential. It's a privilege to be the shadow minister for women and to take charge every day in speaking up for women across our nation. This report makes clear that our journey is not done.