Gender Equality

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, a question about gender equality.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Members may recall that in 2021 I introduced a bill into this place which then had the support of the Labor Party whilst in opposition, and that the same bill was subsequently introduced in May 2022, with the Malinauskas Labor government not supporting the proposal for a gender equality bill.

At the time, the government said that it was working on its own version of a gender equality bill. Indeed, there has been a process that I understand has taken place since then, including budget paper funding, where the government says that it has committed to introducing the equality bill to encourage public and private sector organisations to improve gender equality across their workplaces as well as through their policies, programs and services, and that that would be released for community consultation. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can she please provide an update on when the government will be introducing this bill into parliament?

2. Can she please provide an update as to that community and public consultation process?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:47): I am happy to refer that to the minister in the other place and bring back a response.