March was a big month!

We’ve had our final parliamentary sitting weeks before the May budget, with the Albanese Government tackling cost of living pressures, government accountability and reform in areas such as superannuation and paid parental leave. 

In March we marked International Women’s Day, a day on which we celebrate the contributions of women to all aspects of life, reflect on how far we’ve come and highlight what still needs to be done to achieve gender equality.

This year I was very pleased to have the opportunity to co-host an appreciation event for a group of wonderful Canberra women at The Lodge with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon for International Women’s Day.

The inspiring group were all women who support Canberra women in ways ranging from supporting them through homelessness, financial hardship and isolation, experiencing domestic or sexual violence; helping newly arrived refugees or migrants to settle in our community and share their cultures; to changing our workplaces so that women and organisations can thrive. I was very pleased that the Prime Minister, Jodie and I could celebrate these women together, and that I had this special opportunity to thank them for the difference they each make, as their local member but also as a fellow Canberra woman.

In Parliament, I gave a number of speeches.

I spoke on the Government’s Administrative Review Tribunal Bill. This bill abolishes the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and replaces it with the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Administrative review is a vital part of the functioning of our democracy. It allows for any individual who is subject to a government decision – such as a visa rejection, a Centrelink or tax debt, or NDIS funding cuts, to challenge that decision if they believe it to be wrong.

Unfortunately the AAT was fundamentally undermined by the former Liberal Government. During their time in office they appointed scores of former MPs, candidates and Liberal staffers or people with connections to the Liberal party to the AAT, many with no qualifications or experience relevant to these roles.

The Albanese Government is establishing a new and reformed body in the Administrative Review Tribunal. You can watch my full speech on this legislation and why it is needed below.

I also spoke on the Superannuation Objective Bill.

This is a bill which enshrines in law the objective of Superannuation, that is ‘to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way.’

Australians are rightly proud of our superannuation system which is undoubtedly the most successful retirement savings scheme in the world.

This bill legislates the objective of superannuation to make it harder for future governments to undermine our super scheme again, as the previous Government did.

In March, we marked Coeliac Awareness Week. Coeliac disease affects 1 in 70 Australians, yet 80 per cent of people with coeliac disease in Australia are undiagnosed. It causes damage to the small intestine when consuming gluten. The only known cure is a gluten free diet for the rest of your life. I was able to bring attention to this disease in a speech you can watch below.

March was also Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a debilitating condition affecting one in 10 Australian women. I met with my friend Endometriosis Australia Ambassador and Labor Candidate for Brindabella Caitlin Tough, to discuss the ways we can support research and awareness for this disease. It is because of women like Caitlin bravely sharing their stories that we have an increasing awareness of this serious disease. I also joined colleagues to mark the Month in Parliament.

 As a final note to the Canberra community, the Albanese Government has also opened applications for the Play Our Way Grants which will encourage women and girls to participate in sports. If you know a community sport organisation that would benefit from this grant, you can click here for more information and find out how to apply.

That’s all for this month, but please keep in touch with my office though phone at 6247 8475 or email at [email protected].

Kind regards, 

Alicia