MP proud to be part of a majority female state government

It is with pleasure that I contribute to the Times News Group’s Women in Business feature, and I congratulate the Times Group for their initiative in marking the contribution made by women across the Greater Geelong region.

As the newly elected Member for Bellarine, I take this opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution to life here on the Bellarine Peninsula made by my predecessor Lisa Neville over her 20-year career.

As a role model for other women, Lisa provided unprecedented political and community leadership across the Bellarine, to the benefit of every town and local resident.

Lisa is also a role model for me, and I will be working hard over the next four years to build on her significant legacy.

Across the peninsula, and the wider Geelong region, this means getting on with the job of delivering state government projects that will benefit every local family.

Significant projects like the $500 million Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

This facility, when completed, will provide world-class maternity and paediatric facilities and deliver additional capacity to ensure families throughout the region can access the best of care, close to home.

Personally, as a mum, I fully appreciate the importance of such specialised family and female health services.

In addition, I am proud to be a member of a state government that has strongly demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving gender equality in Victoria.

As just one example of this commitment, the state government is removing barriers to women’s workforce participation with the introduction of universal three- and four-year-old kindergarten and outside of hours school support.

This government proactively supports jobs predominantly held by women, including teachers, healthcare workers and those working in aged care.

The Andrews State Government is also leading the country with its strong commitment to affirmative action. Presently, 54 per cent of Labor Members of Parliament are women and 64 per cent of those women are ministers.